In this photo taken on March 10, 2026, a microbial product developed by Thai scientist Wichien Yongmanitchai called Soil Digest, designed to eliminate the need for the burning of rice stubble, is manufactured at his factory in Samut Sakhon. Rice farmers Siriporn and Amnat Taidee used to burn their paddy fields between plantings -- a common method of clearing crop residue partly blamed for toxic smog that blankets much of Thailand every spring. (Photo by ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'THAILAND-POLLUTION-ENVIRONMENT-AGRICULTURE-SCIENCE,FOCUS' by Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE and Sally JENSEN