ASEAN has taken a major step toward sustainable food systems with the launch of the ASEAN Policy Guidelines on Agroecological Transitions, officially presented in Vientiane, Laos. Developed through the Lao Initiative on Agroecology (LICA) and endorsed at the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Meeting, these guidelines aim to support countries in shifting toward climate-resilient, equitable, and sustainable agriculture. The initiative was a collaborative effort between ASEAN member states, the FAO, CIRAD, ESCAP, and key development partners, including AFD and the European Union.

The guidelines focus on seven key areas: planning, farmer engagement, agrifood value chains, multi-stakeholder collaboration, capacity building, research, and financing. They provide a framework for voluntary national interventions tailored to specific contexts. During the launch, Dr. Chanhthakhone Boualaphanh, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR, emphasized the importance of this initiative in strengthening regional food security and resilience.

Over a two-day event, government representatives, development partners, and private sector actors discussed the practical implementation of the guidelines. Sessions covered policy alignment, investment opportunities, and grassroots experiences from farmers and cooperatives. The event reinforced the need for cross-sector coordination, financing mechanisms, and knowledge sharing to drive agroecological transformation across ASEAN’s diverse agricultural landscapes.