TARASA25: Promoting ecological agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region

At the TARASA25 Conference, countries exchanged experiences in implementing ecological agriculture and regenerative agriculture, contributing to the transformation of sustainable food and foodstuffs.

From November 25-27, 2025, the TARASA25 International Conference with the theme “Transition towards Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture: Contributing to Food System Transformation” took place in Vientiane, Laos. The event brought together more than 230 delegates including researchers, farmers, policy makers, youth leaders, civil society representatives and the private sector from 20 countries in the region.

TARASA25 focuses on ways to increase resilience through agroecology and regenerative agriculture, and to improve equity and sustainability of food systems. The event is organized by LICA (Lao Agroecology Initiative for ASEAN) in collaboration with the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and international partners, with funding from AFD, the European Union and the French Global Environment Facility.

Mr. Saynakhone Inthavong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Laos, delivered the opening speech at the International Conference on Ecological Agriculture and Regenerative Agriculture. Photo: Organizing Committee .

In his opening remarks, Mr. Saynakhone Inthavong, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment of Laos, affirmed that the workshop will provide a platform to move from policy to practical action. "This is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation, strengthen funding mechanisms and enhance public-private partnerships. At the same time, identify specific actions to accelerate the scale of agroecology and regenerative agriculture systems across the region," he said.

French Ambassador to Laos Bénédicte Deschamps stressed: The transition to an ecological agro-food system has proven effective over the past decades and is now globally recognized. Therefore, France will work together to integrate agro-ecological practices and research in projects and broader policy frameworks.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Laos Mark Gallagher commented that ecological agriculture not only improves soil health, biodiversity and climate resilience, but also reduces chemical dependence and strengthens rural livelihoods. "This is essential for the Lao PDR's green growth path. Today's conference is an opportunity to connect farmers, researchers, policymakers and the private sector to translate policy commitments into practice," Ambassador Gallagher said.

Associate Professor, Dr. Dao The Anh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Rural Development Science (PHANO) and delegates shared at the Conference. Photo: Organizing Committee .

For Vietnam, participating in TARASA25 allows domestic organizations to connect with global partners, mobilize resources and more strongly integrate ecological agriculture into national priorities, including: food and nutrition security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, sustainable production and tourism linked to ecological agriculture.

Through its participation in TARASA25, Vietnam has highlighted the growing integration of agroecology into national policy frameworks.

“Agroecology is one of the core pillars of Vietnam’s National Action Plan on Food System Transformation,” said Dr. Dao The Anh, President of the Vietnam Association for Rural Development (PHANO). “TARASA25 has provided a wealth of experience to implement the ASEAN Guidelines on Agroecology Transformation into practice, strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration, and promote locally adapted agroecology models across the country.”

At TARASA25, ASEAN Ministers adopted the Guidelines and Action Plan for Agroecological Transition. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam is coordinating to translate and adapt this document into official guidelines, supporting provincial levels, extension systems and cooperatives to implement it in practice.

According to Dr. Mélanie Blanchard (CIRAD), to scale up the agroecological transformation, it is necessary to put farmers at the center, combine local innovation, take advantage of diverse knowledge, improve research methods and strengthen the links between research, education and extension. At the same time, it is necessary to promote knowledge exchange, build multi-stakeholder networks and apply farm-to-table solutions to translate practical evidence into policy.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tarasa25-thuc-day-nong-nghiep-sinh-thai-khu-vuc-chau-a--thai-binh-duong-d787875.html