Luang Prabang, 12–15 August 2025 – The Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA) organized a four-day Agroecology Field Visit and Exchange Program in Luang Prabang Province. The event, supported by the Agroecology and Safe Food System Transitions in SoutheastAsia (ASSET project) and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union (EU), and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), brought together 18 participants, including farmers, youth, development organizations, associations, and journalists.

The visit provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn directly from local farmers who are pioneering agroecological approaches. At MiMi’s Farm in Pakxaeng District, a young female farmer shared her inspiring journey into agriculture, demonstrated fruit tree grafting, and discussed challenges of market access. At Ban Suan Ai Oun in Chomphet District, participants explored integrated farming practices such as seed saving, frog raising, and black soldier fly feeding, highlighting innovation and sustainability in circular farming systems.

Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Kolaka from Phan-thin said, “I have seen young people who have decided to pursue agriculture as a career—agriculture doesn’t specify what age one must be to do it. I will use the stories of the young people we visited this time to inspire the youth groups that our organization works with.”

The program also engaged journalists to strengthen storytelling on sustainable agriculture. Ms. Manoly from Lao National Radio emphasized, “As journalists, we will take the knowledge, new perspectives, and new experiences gained from this field visit to produce reports and present news to help society gain deeper understanding. We will also use this to create inspiration for young men and women, or individuals who lack the courage to make decisions, lack inspiration, and lack channels on how to start farming.”

As an outcome, journalists will publish articles and media features to raise public awareness of agroecology, while ALiSEA will share lessons and a reflection video on its platforms. The exchange not only strengthened collaboration among members but also highlighted the role of youth and media in shaping sustainable and resilient farming systems in Laos.

Selected media outputs include:

• 02 News posted on The Laotian Times: News #1 & News #2
• 02 News posted on Lao Youth Radio FM 90.0 Mhz’s Facebook page: News #1 & News #2
• 02 Videos posted on Lao National Radio’s Facebook page: Video #1 & Video #2
• 01 Video posted on the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE)’s Facebook page: Video #1