Virtual Regional Consultation on Engaging with Academia and Research Institutions (ARIs) to Support Family Farmers and Food System Transformation During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic in Asia

Moderator: Pierre Ferrand (FAO)

1.     Institutional initiatives

• SAARC Agriculture Center – Dr. Md. Baktear Hossain, Director (video message)
• Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture – Dr. Glenn Gregorio, Director (video message)
• UNESCO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific – Dr. Susan Vize, Regional Adviser for Social and Human Sciences
• Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation – Dr. Hildegard Lingnau, Executive Secretary
• CGIAR, OneCGIAR initiative on “Transformational Agroecology across food, land and water systems – Dr. Matthew McCartney
• Transformative Partnership Platform on Agroecology – Dr. Fergus Sinclair, CIFOR-ICRAF
• IFAD – Ms. Ilaria Firmain, Regional Specialist, Asia and the Pacific Division
• Dr. Wayne Nelles, Rural Homestead Farmer, and former Visiting Scholar Chulalongkorn University
• Q&A

Moderator: Pierre Ferrand (FAO)

• Andhra Pradesh Community Based Natural Farming Movement – Vijay Kumar, Advisor to Government of Andhra Pradesh for Agriculture & Cooperation
• Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development – Esther Penunia, Secretary General
• Third World Network – IPES-FOOD – Lim Li Ching, Researcher
• Amrita Bhoomi Centre – Chukki Nanjundaswamy, Coordinator
• Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) – Tammi Jonas, President and Farmer
• Q&A

Moderator: Francois Enten (GRET)

The panel discussion will touch upon the following issues

• Existing challenges for education & extension to reach out to smallholders (and their organizations)
• Digital transformation, how far can it go and what barriers can it address?
• What recommendations to bridge the gap between ARIs and FFOs?

Speakers

• Mr. Florante Villas, AsiaDHRRA, Philippines
• Ms. Jie-Hye (Alicia) Lee, Korea University International Law Research Center
• Dr. Epsi Euriga, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia
• Dr. Namita Singh, Digital Green, India
• Mr Zainal Arifin Fuad, Serikat Petani Indonesia (SPI) & La Via Campesina, Indonesia
• Q&A

Focus on ARIs’ experiences in supporting rural transformation, Agroecology mainstreaming and Family Farmers Organizations. This is organized around communications received prior to the conference through an open call for communication. The different topics are related to building back greener and more resilient (mainstreaming climate resilience and Agroecology)

Session lead: Sasireka Rajendran (APAARI) & Myline Macabuhay (AFA)

WATCH SESSION RECORDING

Session lead: Susan Vize (UNESCO) & Estelle Bienabe (CIRAD)

WATCH SESSION RECORDING

• Home gardens for resilient local food systems – Pepijn Schreinemachers (World Vegetable Center/Thailand)
• Investing in food safety, nutrition & women empowerment can play a key role to accelerate agro-ecological transitions – Marie Aude Even (IFAD); Shila Gnyawali (Asha Project/ Nepal); Doina Popusoi (IFAD)

Discussant: Joanna Kane-Potaka, Director, Strategic Marketing and Communication, ICRISAT

• Five Livelihood Asset: Guidelines for Goat Raising Management of Farmers in the Upper Northern Region of Thailand – Dr. Nathitakarn Phayakka (Chiang Mai University/Thailand) and and Mr Kitisak Thongmeethip (Chiang Mai University/Thailand)
• Smoked salted egg small industry with permaculture concept in Slorok village, Doko district, Blitar regency – Siti Azizah (Brawijaya University/Indonesia)

Discussant: Dr. Ram Pratim Deka, Scientist cum Research Management Coordinator, ILRI

• Higher Educational Challenges in Promoting Aqua-ecology in Thailand and Lao PDR – Alan D. Ziegler (Thailand), Dr. Khajornkiat Srinuansom (Thailand), Mr. Alounxay Pasithi (Laos), Mr. Decha Duangnamon (Thailand)
• Reinvigorating the Philippine Seaweed Industry Through the Application of an Improved Drying Technology – Dr. Ronel S. Pangan (University of the Philippines)

Discussant: Rishi Kumar Tyagi, PhD
Coordinator, APAARI

• Initiatives for development of integrated coffee systems under market forces in the Central Highlands of Vietnam – Hue Tran (Enveritas/Vietnam)
• Localizing agroecology and fostering sustainability of rural livelihoods/communities through community entrepreneurship to support Family Farming: Framework, experiences and lessons learned – Helmi (Andalas University/Indonesia)
• Green transformation in agriculture for sustainability of rural livelihoods – Experiences from the Coastal Areas of Vietnamese Mekong Delta – Nguyen Thanh Binh (Con Tho University/Vietnam)
• Delivering cross-cutting actions to the local food system in Vietnam – Ysabel Anne C. Lee & Tuyen Huynh (CIAT/Vietnam)
• Establishment of the Association of Western Japan Agroecology: Based on reflection of the history of the ‘Teikei’, Direct Partnership between Producers and Consumers in Japan – Dr. Koichi Ikegami (Kindai University/Japan)

Discussants

• Mr Daniel Hayward – Project Coordinator – Mekong Land Research Forum, Regional Center for Social Sciences and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Chiang Mai University
• Dr. Anni Mitin – Advisor, Malaysian Agroecology Society (SRI-Mas) and Former Executive Director Southeast Asian Council for Food Security & Fair Trade (SEACON)
• Mr. Do Trong Hoan – Research officer, ICRAF (World Agroforestry Center), Vietnam

Session lead: Pierre Ferrand (FAO) & Pedcris Orencio (SEARCA)

WATCH SESSION RECORDING

Session lead: Lucie Reynaud (GRET) & Melanie Blanchard (CIRAD)

WATCH SESSION RECORDING

• The role of actor-networks in enabling agroecological innovation. Lessons from 15 years on-field applications in the northern uplands of Laos – Jean-Christophe Castella (IRD/Laos)
• Empowering communities to drive experimentations to support agro-ecological transitions in collaboration with extension systems and farmers organizations – Marie Aude Even (IFAD), Suzanne Phillips (FAO), Katiuscia Fara (WFP)

Discussant: Dr Peter Rosset (ECOSUR / Mexico)

• Building partnerships in promoting Agroecology and sustainable food systems: The experience of the MASIPAG farmers’ network and the Dept of Community Development, University of the Philippines – Ma. Corazon J. Tan (UP Diliman / Philippines)
• Organizations’ experiences in supporting rural transformation, Agro-ecology mainstreaming and Family Farmers with the view to building back greener and more resilient – Thoan Ho (NVCARD / Vietnam)

Discussant: Dr Pedcris Orencio (SEARCA)

• Bridging the Gap between Formal and Informal Seed Systems through Community Seed Banks in Asia – Patrick Trail (ECHO Asia / Thailand)
• Advancing ways forward to Transparent, Responsible and Sustainable Food system transitions through building Agroecology pathways: insights into research-based developments from a Vietnamese Academy of Agricultural Science (VAAS) led partnership – Pham Thi Hanh Tho (CASRAD / Vietnam)

Discussant: Dr. Abram Bicksler (FAO HQ)

• When myths become fact:  how misleading information can become a threat to food security – Dr. Gunnar Kirchhof (University of Queensland/ Australia)
• Mainstreaming agroecology in higher education institutions for redesigning sustainable food systems in Asia – Dr. Abha Mishra (AIT/Thailand)
• Enhancing capacities of the young generation in Cambodia for supporting rural transformation and agroecology mainstreaming through ESD teaching approaches – Dr. Isabelle Providoli (CDE) and Mr. Tim Sophea (RUA/Cambodia)
• Implementation of e-learning activities at ITC Cambodia – Mr. Bou Channa (ITC/Cambodia)
• Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development in Thailand: The Role of Science, Technology, and Innovation at Kasetsart University – Dr. Orachos Napasintuwong (Kasetsart University/Thailand)
• Assessing Training Needs and Higher Education Program on Agroecology and Safe Food System at Universities in Mekong Subregion – Dr. Peany Houng (ITC/Cambodia)

WATCH SESSION RECORDING

• Wrap up of Day 2 (session leads)
• The way forward: Pierre Ferrand (FAO)