20th Annual Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion Working Group on Agriculture

Agrifood value chains in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), overall, proved to be resilient to global supply chain disruptions during the pandemic and have made a vital contribution to food security, and economic recovery. Many challenges, however, remain.

Consumer demand for safe and high-quality agri-food products is increasing both domestically and outside the GMS. Likewise, the demand for low-carbon and green agri-food products is growing, especially in higher-value export markets. Production and marketing of green, safe, and resilient agri-food products require a reduction of energy, carbon and waste footprint along the value chain while remaining resilient to market and climate shocks.

Additionally, digital innovation and green finance are vital for the transformation of agri-food systems to be sustainable and climate resilient. But access to digital services and the flow of green investment funds to small and medium agribusinesses are still low in the GMS. The GMS countries have great potential to adopt innovative fintech applications, including digital finance innovations, blockchain and app-based lending platforms. Digital financial transactions enhance the opportunities for cash-based finance for both agribusinesses and smallholder farmers.

In light of the above, with the support of the ADB-funded Greater Mekong Subregion Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program (SAFSP), the dialogue launched at the 20^th Annual Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion will help in identifying policies and actions to enhance the development of green, inclusive, and resilient value chains that will enable GMS smallholder farmers to produce safe and climate-friendly agrifood products for higher value GMS and export markets. The dialogue will also contribute to better green finance policies that will increase green agricultural sector investment and the fund flow for green technologies in agrifood value chains.     

You are invited to join the conversation by registering at the link provided below.  Please note that the event extends over two days and the same Zoom link is valid for both. 

Register