The bread is definitely okay for two months, and Pavinee is looking into ways to make it last for a year, as other countries have managed. She previously worked on food for emergencies while lecturing at the University of Massachusetts in the US, but she faces different challenges in Thailand in terms of ingredients, technology and funding.
In the US she was involved in creating meals for frontline troops in the Persian Gulf and was also on a USAid committee designing food for crises. Bread was invariably included, and Pavinee brought home some ideas to develop further.
Since the wheat available in Thailand is prohibitively expensive. She’s looking at locally grown grains, while at the same time bearing in mind the taste.
Pavinee says meals can be made that will last much longer-“we have the know-how” but current funding is.