Development of a Digital Thesaurus for Organic Agriculture: Enhancing Knowledge Accessibility for Young Agripreneurs, Sumana Chiangnangam, Dr Wirapong Chansanam
Sumana Chiangnangam
Department of Information Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Thailand
ORCID: 0009-0003-3516-681X
Dr Wirapong Chansanam
Department of Information Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen
Thailand
ORCID: 0000-0001-5546-8485
Paper Type: Research
Received: 5 January 2025 / Revised: 26 January 2025 / Accepted: 27 January 2025 / Published: 15 August 2025
DOI: 10.47556/J.WJEMSD.21.3.2025.2
Purpose: This study aims to develop a thesaurus for organic agriculture tailored to the needs of young agripreneurs, providing a controlled vocabulary within a digital platform to enhance data access, semantic search capabilities, and term interpretation.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The research adopts principles of dictionary construction theory and employs the Tematres program for thesaurus creation and vocabulary management. The methodology encompassed four key stages: (1) Content Analysis: Identifying and analysing organic agriculture concepts and terminology; (2) Thesaurus Development: Constructing a hierarchical and associative vocabulary structure; (3) Digital Platform Development: Implementing the thesaurus on an interactive digital platform; and (4) Efficiency Evaluation: Assessing the platform’s performance and usability.
Findings: The study identified 1,070 keywords related to organic agriculture, organised into a hierarchical structure comprising 1,037 hierarchical and 34 associative relationships. The developed platform facilitates keyword searches, term navigation, and detailed information retrieval, including definitions and relational hierarchies (broader, narrower, and related terms). It also supports alphabetical browsing and semantic exploration, significantly enhancing information accessibility and comprehension.
Research Limitations/Implications: This thesaurus and its digital platform provide a valuable resource for young agripreneurs, enabling efficient access to organic agriculture knowledge and fostering deeper engagement with the field.
Originality: The platform’s innovative approach to managing controlled vocabulary establishes a foundation for further advancements in agricultural information systems.
Keywords: Organic Agriculture; Thesaurus Development; Young Agripreneurs; Controlled Vocabulary; Digital Platform.
Citation: Chiangnangam, S. and Chansanam, W. (2025): Development of a Digital Thesaurus for Organic Agriculture: Enhancing Knowledge Accessibility for Young Agripreneurs. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development (WJEMSD), Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 201-229.
