This photo taken on March 18, 2026 shows a farmer inspecting a rice field that has recently been treated with microbial solution Soil Digest, in Chiang Rai province. 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 Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'THAILAND-POLLUTION-ENVIRONMENT-AGRICULTURE-SCIENCE,FOCUS' by Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE and Sally JENSEN