National Policy Dialogue Consultation Workshop on ASEAN Policy Guidelines on Agroecology Transitions

Prepared by ALiSEA Vietnam – Executive Team

Agroecology and sustainable food systems have become key priorities in the context of climate change and global food security challenges. The ASEAN Policy Guidelines on Agroecology Transitions were officially adopted at the 45th Senior Officials Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF) in October 2024. In Vietnam, the government has demonstrated strong commitment to promoting sustainable agricultural transformation through the issuance of the National Action Plan for Transparent, Responsible, and Sustainable Food System Transformation by 2030.

On 12 November 2025 in Hanoi, the Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA Vietnam), together with member organizations of the Vietnam Association for Rural Development Sciences, the Rural Development Center, and the Agroforestry Research and Development Center for the Northern Mountainous Region, organized a workshop entitled “National Policy Dialogue Consultation Workshop on ASEAN Policy Guidelines on Agroecology Transitions.” The event gathered 76 participants (26 men and 50 women) representing 41 member organizations of the network, including research institutes, universities, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, and farmers. The workshop was supported by GRET.

During the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Mai Huong, Deputy Director of the Rural Development Center at the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, and a representative of the LICA focal point presented the ASEAN Policy Guidelines on Agroecology Transitions. The guidelines highlight seven leverage points and practical recommendations to support agroecological transformation, including (1) planning for agroecological transition; (2) working with farmers; (3) supporting value chain transformation; (4) capacity building and knowledge sharing; (5) stakeholder engagement; (6) research programs; and (7) financing the transition.

Associate Professor Dr. Dao The Anh, President of the Vietnam Rural Development Science Association (PHANO) and a representative of ALiSEA board members in Vietnam, presented the National Action Plan for Food System Transformation, along with orientations and policy directions for agroecology development in Vietnam.

: Dr. Nguyen Mai Huong, Deputy Director of RUDEC/ISPAE

: Associate Professor Dr. Dao The Anh, PHANO

Following the presentations, representatives from ALiSEA member organizations shared their practical experiences. Mr. Nguyen Quang Tan from ICRAF and Mr. Bui Van Tung from NOMAFSI shared the implementation of agroecology-related development projects and models at the local level, highlighting both successes and challenges in applying agroecological approaches to support food system transformation.

: Mr. Nguyen Quang Tan – ICRAF

: Mr. Bui Van Tung – NOMAFSI

During the workshop, participants were divided into three stakeholder groups representing the public sector (research institutes and universities), civil society and non-governmental organizations, and the private sector and businesses. Through group discussions, participants exchanged experiences, perspectives, and recommendations to promote agroecological transition in Vietnam in alignment with the seven leverage points outlined in the ASEAN Guidelines.

The plenary discussion session also gathered numerous insights from network members regarding approaches on developing and scaling agroecological models. Several policy recommendations for agroecological transitions were proposed, emphasizing that the participation of the private sector in the implementation of transition activities is essential. Private sectors provide financial resources, advanced technologies, and market and value chain linkages to promote the transition toward agroecological agriculture. In addition, indigenous knowledge and local culture were recognized as valuable resources for agroecology development. Other key recommendations included developing guidance materials and evaluation criteria, strengthening training and capacity-building activities, integrating agroecology into educational curricula, and encouraging the engagement of youth and students in agroecology initiatives. These efforts are expected to help disseminate knowledge and accelerate agroecological transitions in Vietnam.

The workshop served as an important platform for ALiSEA Vietnam members to meet, exchange knowledge, and propose initiatives for advancing agroecology. Moving forward, ALiSEA Vietnam will collaborate with members to develop programs that integrate the ASEAN policy guidelines on agroecology transitions that are appropriate to Vietnam’s national context. Further policy dialogue activities on agroecology will strengthen the collaboration among network members and mobilize greater resources to achieve shared objectives of the network at both national and regional levels.

All the presentations are available to download below:

English version:

Vietnamese version: