Too spicy for elephants!
The Tom Yum project is named after the spicy, healthy Thai soup of which the ingredients ( chilli, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, onion, coriander ) are not attractive to elephants. This means the crops can be used as an income-generating natural elephant deterrent . To maximise the product range and the diversity of livelihoods, we combine the Tom Yum ingredients with other crops that are disliked by elephants, such as lime, ginger, chamomile, mint, basil, turmeric, or citronella. To promote hu
The Tom Yum ingredients are easy to grow, are familiar to Thai people, economically viable and have been tested as effective elephant deterrents . They can be grown organically, whereas the current mono-crop plantations degrade soil quality and biodiversity due to heavy use of chemicals. The Tom Yum Project is straightforward and does not involve advanced technology, expertise or investment. Farmers continue their traditional way of life using their existing skills but instead of attracting elephants to the