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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: NAFRI Policy Brief - Unlocking the full potential of Lao PDR’s tea sector_English & Lao version Authors/editor: Sengphachanh Sonethavixay, Khamphou Phouyyavong (PhD Candidate), Phanxay Ingxay (PhD), Isabelle Vagneron (PhD) Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: NAFRI 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: Policy Brief No. 001/2018: Tea in Laos is mainly grown and collected by smallholder farmers. It thus has a strong potential to contribute to poverty alleviation and rural development. Despite a relatively large production area, the volumes of tea produced and exported are low. Laos could take advantage of favorable production conditions, unique varieties and traditional know-how to develop a high-quality tea sector. The most pressing issue is to improve quality both inside the tea garden and at later stages (harvesting, processing). It is important to note however that improving farmer capacity can only be successful if the value-chain is organized in a way that farmers are able to reap the benefi ts of their eff orts towards improved quality. A sustainable and inclusive tea sector strategy focusing on the livelihoods and benefi ts of smallholder farmers, fair trade practices, building up and/or upgrading local processing facilities and diversifi ed markets should be collectively defi ned.   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: Meeting Minutes on Consultation workshop on the concept of agroecology and sustainable food systems for Cambodia Authors/editor: Lucie Reynaud (GRET), Celia Del Campo Aragonés (DCA), Rada Kong (CIRAD Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: ASSET Year of publication: 2022 Geographic focus: Cambodia Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: This consultation workshop is part of the participatory process to build a common vision and understanding of the agricultural and food system and the changes needed to achieve agroecological and sustainable food systems transitions at national level… This is a meeting minutes on Consultation workshop on the concept of agroecology and sustainable food systems for Cambodia that was held on Thursday 24th, March 202, full article is here: https://ali-sea.org/agroecology-key-principles-consultation-workshop-in-cambodia-24th-march-2022/   Read More

Title of document: Food Systems Profile - The Lao People’s Democratic Republic The following people have contributed to this assessment and the writing of this note: Sayvisene Boulom, Thongdeuane Nanthanavone (National Consultants); Stéphane Guéneau (CIRAD), Meeta Punjabi Mehta (CFID, FAO), Pooja Khosla (CFIB, FAO), Maria Antonia Tuazon (FAO), Isabelle Vagneron (CIRAD) Leyla Werleigh (FAO, Lao PDR) , James Tefft (CFID, FAO). Editing and formatting: Alan Cooper, Saon Bhattacharya, Chiara Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: FAO, EU, CIRAD, MAF Year of publication: 2022 Geographic focus: Lao PDR Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: This brief is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CIRAD, and the European Union, in close consultation with national and international experts. It was implemented in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from June to September 2021. The methodology used for preparing this brief is the result of a global initiative of the European Union, FAO, and CIRAD to support the sustainable and inclusive transformation of food systems. This assessment methodology is described in detail in the joint publication entitled, Catalysing the sustainable and inclusive transformation of food systems: conceptual framework and method for national and territorial assessment...   Read More

Title of document: Regional Workshop: Scaling-up Agroecology in ASEAN Higher Education to Meet SDGs and Ensure Climate Resilience Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand Authors/editor: MU Journal’s name if any: Ministry/Government Agency/Organization: CU, OHEC, MU, SEARCA, UNESCO, ALiSEA Year of publication: 2019 Geographic focus: ASEAN Main issues/ topics addressed (for example: …) School of agroecology (if any): Web address to original document (if any): Summary: As part of CU’s policy studies and dialogue project Maejo University (MJU) during 26-27 June, 2019 hosted a regional workshop in Chiang Mai on Scaling-up Agroecology in ASEAN Higher Education to meet SDGs and Ensure Climate Resilience” in partnership with CU and ASEAN Agriculture Universities Network (AAUN). This is the full report of Regional Workshop: Scaling-up Agroecology in ASEAN Higher Education to Meet SDGs and Ensure Climate Resilience Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 26-27 June 2019   Read More