NAKHON NAYOK: Giant snails inch across a plate of pumpkin and cucumber in central Thailand, an "organic" diet to tease the prized collagen-rich mucus from the molluscs, which to some cosmetic firms are now more valuable than gold. The snails at Phatinisiri Thangkeaw's farm were once the scourge of rice farmers, loathed for eating the buds of new crops. The precious slime is patiently "milked" from the glands of the snail by dripping water over it using a pipette.
Its raw form is sold to Aden International, a Thai-based cosmetics company that primarily ships its products to Korea and the US. The sole snail slime producer in Thailand, Aden was started three years ago as a business-savvy solution to the snail infestation in Nakhon Nayok, said founder Kitpong Puttarathuvanun. And his bet paid off. Mr Kitpong sells the serum under the Acha brand, but also supplies Korean and American cosmetic companies with a dried powder at 1. Somkamol Manchun, the doctor in charge of the purification process, said snail mucus contains collagen and elastin β ingredients that "can make skin firm with less wrinkles".
At the moment, no scientific studies have been done on the curative qualities of snail serum and slime, but snail farmer Phatinisiri is already feeling the market heat up. Two years ago, she was the first in the area to try farming the slime, she said, and villagers readily gave her what they considered pests.
Death toll rises as Indians protest against an anti-Muslim citizenship law seen as a threat to secularism, and as reports emerge that banks may start asking customers about their religion. Palang Pracharath members vote to name 17 new executives including 2 deputy leaders and change its logo to enhance unity. A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand on Thursday, Dec Other Services. Farmers on the cash trail with snail slime 5. Farmers on the cash trail with snail slime.
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