Thailand's ambition to become a global food hub is facing significant headwinds as imported produce—especially cheap garlic and onions from China—floods the market, undermining local farmers and raising food safety concerns. Domestic garlic output fell from 59,362 tonnes in 2023 to 53,090 tonnes, while onion production dropped from 32,480 to 31,366 tonnes. Testing has found that 7 out of 10 imported vegetable samples failed safety standards. Government critics argue insufficient protective measures are in place for farmers and consumers, and call for stronger border screening and temporary import quotas during domestic harvest seasons.