Title of document: Agroecological initiatives in the Mekong Region: a systematic literature review and mapping reveals their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems Authors/editor: Cornelia Hett, Zar Chi Aye, Christophe Gironde, Alice Beban, Jean-Christophe Castella, Rasso Bernhard & Albrecht Ehrensperger Journal’s name if any: Journal of Land Use Science Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Year of publication: 2023 Geographic focus: Mekong regional Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): https://doi.org/10.1080/1747423X.2023.2248980 Summary: This article provides a comprehensive overview of agroecological initiatives in the region, including their geographical distribution, focus areas, and potential for scaling up. It also highlights some of the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to more sustainable food systems   Read More

Title of document: Toward a sustainable food system and agroecology transition in Vietnam Authors/editor: The Anh Dao, Ngoc Mai Nguyen Journal’s name if any: VMOST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: VAAS Year of publication: 2023 Geographic focus: Vietnam Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: agroecology, food system, sustainable, Vietnam) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Vietnam seeks to accelerate agricultural restructuring and develop modernity-oriented agriculture, improve the resilience and adaptability of the agricultural sector against climate change, and align this sector with the processing industry, markets, export activities, and global value chains. Vietnam is also committed to transforming its food systems into green, sustainable, low-emission agriculture and agroecological production. Vietnam wishes to become a Food Innovation Hub of Asia and to achieve nutrition security in 2030. A National Action Plan for a sustainable food system will be built.   Read More

Title of document: Learning Brief- Marketing potential of Lao Forest Honey: Prospects for a “healthy” future_ English & Lao version Authors/editor: Emmanuelle Andaya, Soutsada Chanthasiri, Manivanh Aliyavong Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: NAFRI, TABI, NUoL, GCDA, DECA, NTFP-EP Year of publication: 2018 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: NAFRI learning Brief: The perceived health benefits and natural quality of Lao Forest Honey provide a marketing advantage over other competitors in the country and the region, where honey is predominantly used for health. Strengthen Lao Honey’s image and brand as pure forest honey in the domestic and export markets through (1) a national standard, (2) quality and traceability systems, (3) hygiene and safety certification, (3) improved packaging, branding, and (4) communication. Focus on niche markets, competing on quality and value instead of quantity and price. Instead of the international bulk and traditional markets, the Lao Forest honey sector should focus on creating its own niche and capturing a share of the middle to high-end honey markets in the domestic and neighboring countries, and then expand to other high-value import ng countries. Increase domestic c consumption of Lao honey through accessibility and information dissemination. Improve distribution on systems and increase consumer awareness of the health benefits of honey in general, and the availability and quality of Lao honey to strengthen the domestic market. For a more competitive Lao Forest Honey Sector, upgrade the product and marketing capacity of the value chain actors, invest in research and development, and promote innovation. Combining traditional knowledge with new technology and techniques offers the potential to increase productivity and create unique honey products for health and other niche markets. Link up with entrepreneurs and other sectors. Make use of the tourism sector as a promoter on a platform and engage social entrepreneurs to further promote the Lao Honey Sector. A strong Country of Origin (COO) image will benefit the Lao Honey and other Lao natural products. Laos can develop its image as a country where safe and clean products are produced. This will require cooperation among different ministries and sectors and a national strategy that promotes and protects the image of Lao products.   Read More

Title of document: NAFRI research Brief - Negotiating the Forest-Fallow Interface: Benzoin Tree in the Multifunctional Landscapes of Lao PDR Authors/editor: TABI Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: NAFRI, TABI Year of publication: 2019 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Research Brief No. 001/2019: Upland agriculture systems are under threat from competing land uses and development priorities that seek to intensify agricultural land uses while promoting strict forest conservation, leading to shortened fallow systems and a large-scale shift toward commodity crop production Better alternatives are needed for the development of Lao PDR’s uplands—alternatives that build on traditional management regimes, local agrobiodiversity and traditional knowledge systems rather than replace them, recognizing multiple uses of landscape systems and their substantial potential to contribute to sustainable socioeconomic development. Multifunctional landscapes depend on a complex mixture of croplands, forest, fallows and the diversity of endemic species used by local communities. Long-fallow rotational systems are a key element in these complex uplands, enhancing and supporting ecosystems services and the sustainability of upland systems Benzoin tree is exemplary of similar local species adapted to long-rotational cultivation systems and an integral part of upland diversity. Benzoin depends on long-fallowing and enhances economic returns from upland systems. Despite strong market demand and rising prices, Benzoin production has decreased dramatically in recent years due to shortening rotations and loss of available land due to forest conservation measures and the rapid expansion of commercial crops. Analysis indicates that for economic returns and production per unit of land and labour, benzoin production compares favourably with typical cash crop alternatives such as maize, while also delivering co-benefits for sustainability. Benzoin production represents an agro-forestry system with high sustainability. Benzoin should be regarded as an agricultural product, rather than a natural product with regard to quota systems and taxation.   Read More

Title of document: NAFRI research Brief - New Directions for Participatory Land Use Planning: Can Bottom-up Approaches Achieve a Win-Win for Sustainable Development and Forest Conservation? Authors/editor: TABI Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: NAFRI, DALaM, TABI Year of publication: 2019 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example:…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Research Brief No. 002/2019: Land-intensive development pathways such as TLIC and the expansion of commercial agriculture are placing increased demand on rural landscapes and heightening tensions around resource-tenure security, requiring innovative approaches to planning. National development and conservation goals are sometimes, but not always, compatible with one another and with the needs and interest of local communities, requiring mechanisms for negotiation. Top-down planning tools provide a general framework for enhancing synergies and negotiating trade-offs between development and conservation goals at the macro-level, but bottom-up processes are necessary to ensure local needs and enable village-level planning and management. An innovative, bottom-up participatory land use planning approach co-developed and implemented by a consortium of GoL agencies, development practitioners and researchers through the Agro-biodiversity Initiative (TABI) demonstrates strong potential for supporting national development and conservation goals in a manner that is locally-acceptable and reflects actual land uses and resource needs. Through the participatory Forest and Land Use Planning and Management (pFALUPAM) approach, areas allocated for forests increased by 8.4 percent, though varied significantly by area depending on local contextual factors. Collaborative planning supported enhanced landscape-scale connectivity between forest areas, promoting ecosystem service values. Agrobiodiversity and the integrity of multifunctional landscapes were enhanced through zonation for local species and cultivars, protection of agricultural areas, and the promotion of long-fallowing in rotational upland systems through colocation. The pFALUPAM approach facilitated local management by clarifying inter-village boundaries to reduce conflict, enhancing local tenure security, and providing a mechanism for community consensus-building around management objectives. Further work is needed to support local institutions and capacities for adaptive management and the clarification of jap jong ti din1 and its effects on communally-managed resources.   Read More

Title of document: The poster presents the results of various activities of the Lao Farmer Network (Lao language) Authors/editor: LFN Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: LFN, DEAC Year of publication: 2023 Geographic focus: Laos Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: a posters of partners organizations and farmer representatives to shared their experience on various of topics such as organic fertilizer business of Thakhor group, spring onion seed business, a new rice farming system, integrated pest control, producer public private sector partnership development, agriculture innovation competition scheme, etc…) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: The posters were shared in the Lao Farmer Network General Assembly on Febuary 1, 2023 that including lessons on organic fertilizer business of Thakhor group, spring onion seed business, a new rice farming system, integrated pest control, producer public private sector partnership development, agriculture innovation competition scheme, etc. Full article about LFN’s general assembly here   Read More

Title of document: Indigenous knowledge and the enhancement of community resilience to climate change in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam Authors/editor: Ho Ngoc Son, Aaron Kingsbury & Ha Thi Hoa Journal’s name if any: www.tandfonline.com Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: Agriculture and Forestry Research & Development Centre for Mountainous Region (ADC), Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Quyet Thang Commune, Thai Nguyen City, Vietnam; Arts and Sciences, Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, ME, USA Year of publication: 2020 Geographic focus: Vietnam Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2020.1829777 Summary: Over centuries, ethnic minority communities in the north of Vietnam have developed complex farming systems well-adapted to their environments. Much of this is based on indigenous knowledge concerned with adapting to locally-available resources and more recently enhancing resiliency to climatic risk. This article draws from data gathered with mixed qualitative methods in ten villages in rural Bac Kan Province in the north of the country. It documents specific examples in the production of banana and medicinal plants; maize and red peanut; taro, pachyrhizus, and maize; and green bean as systems that incorporate native crops in ways that provide resistance to drought, improve water-use efficiency, benefit the soil, minimize agrochemical use, preserve culinary traditions, support gender equality, and increase the incomes of farm families living near the poverty line. Overall, this study illustrates unique ways that indigenous knowledge and agroecological farming practices can increase social, economic, and environmental resiliency, mitigate risk, and strengthen livelihoods in marginalized communities. As communities across the Global South seek answers to ever increasing challenges brought by changes in climate, this paper argues that policymakers should revisit, support, and promote the indigenous knowledge already present in these communities to advance more sustainable futures.   Read More

Title of document: Overview of service provision business in Kanghot, Battambang Authors/editor: Sreymom Seing, Pierre Vernet, Bendith Tai, Rama, Vira Leng, Florent Tivet Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: MAFF, CIRAD, NIRAS, ATSA, AETS, CIRD Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Cambodia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: These activities are conducted by the Department of Agricultural Land Resources Management (DALRM), General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) in partnership with CIRAD under the support of the project Water Resources Management and Agroecological Transition for Cambodia (WAT4CAM-CS/04-02) funded by the French Agency for Development (AFD) and the European Union (EU). This activity is part of the Component 4 - Support innovative farming practices and support to rice value chain implemented by NIRAS, its partners and CIRAD, and refer specifically to the sub-component 4.2 – Research for Development on Agroecology. Link for the Webinar on Overview of Agricultural machinery service provision business in Kanghot, Battambang, July 14, 2021   Read More

Title of document: Use of legume cover crops to improve soil fertility, yield and profit in organic rice production Authors/editor: Rama Sry, Kakada Nhoeng, Vira Leng, Sothy Im, Borin Srun, Mathilde Sester, Florent Tivet, Vang Seng, Sokhom Srun Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: WAT4CAM, MAFF, CIRAD, NIRAS, AFD, EU Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Cambodia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Brief of history of farmers in Rovieng district, Preah Vihear, Cambodia. These activities are conducted by the Department of Agricultural Land Resources Management (DALRM), General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) in partnership with CIRAD under the support of the project Water Resources Management and Agroecological Transition for Cambodia (WAT4CAM-CS/04-02) funded by the French Agency for Development (AFD) and the European Union (EU). This activity is part of the Component 4 - Support innovative farming practices and support to rice value chain implemented by NIRAS, its partners and CIRAD, and refer specifically to the sub-component 4.2 – Research for Development on Agroecology.   Read More

Title of document: Risk Perception and Lowland Rice Farming Change in Savannakhet Province, Southern Laos Authors/editor: Chanthavisouk Ninchaluene, Santi Piyadeth, Ian G. Baird Journal’s name if any: European Journal of East Asian Studies Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: Savannakhet University, University of Wisconsin-Madison Year of publication: 2021 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: Lowland rice cultivation is changing in southern Laos. A formalised survey and informal interviews in the lowlands of Savannakhet Province indicate that while some farmers still raise water buffaloes, farmers now mainly use hand-held mechanised ploughs to till their fields. More chemical fertilisers are being used, and improved seed varieties have become dominant, with native varieties disappearing. Due to these changes, rice yields have increased substantially, with many more farmers selling surplus rice. The trade-offs are, however, not simple…   Read More