Advancing Agrifood Systems Transformation in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Two Knowledge Products from TA-9916

SIX YEARS. HUNDREDS OF DISCUSSIONS. ONE SHARED AMBITION: TRANSFORMING AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS ACROSS THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION.

As ADB’s Greater Mekong Subregion Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Program (TA-9916 SAFSP) moves toward successful completion, I would like to acknowledge the collaboration among governments, development partners, research institutes, universities, and the private sector across the GMS.

It has been a privilege to contribute to this regional initiative as Climate-Smart Agriculture Specialist.

Key message

Improving agricultural productivity alone is no longer enough.

The next phase of regional cooperation requires a broader systems transformation — connecting climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions, digital MRV, traceability, natural capital accounting, climate finance, and public-private partnerships.

To support this transition, I was pleased to lead the development of two strategic knowledge products for TA-9916.

Knowledge Product 13

Agrifood System Transformation in the GMS, 2026–2030: Priorities for CSA/NbS, Digital MRV & Traceability, Natural Capital Accounting, and Public–Private Finance

https://greatermekong.org/g/agrifood-system-transformation-gms-2026%E2%80%932030-priorities-csanbs-digital-mrv-traceability-natural

This publication proposes a practical roadmap for scaling climate-smart and nature-based agrifood systems across the GMS while strengthening regional public goods, cross-border cooperation, and investment readiness.

Policy Brief

Strengthening Water and Soil Management for a Climate-Resilient GMS

https://greatermekong.org/g/strengthening-water-and-soil-management-climate-resilient-gms

The brief highlights policy priorities for improving water and soil resilience, strengthening delivery systems, and creating enabling conditions for scaling CSA and NbS throughout the region.

Why this matters for the next phase

The 2026–2030 agenda will require more than isolated pilots or individual technologies.

It will require:

• regional public goods

• interoperable digital systems

• stronger public-private collaboration

• investable CSA/NbS models

• evidence-based planning and financing

I am grateful to ADB, Landell Mills, the TA-9916 team, and partners across the GMS for the collaboration and technical exchanges that shaped these outputs.

While TA-9916 is coming to an end, the journey toward Agrifood Systems Transformation 2030 is only beginning.

I look forward to continuing to contribute to this regional agenda through research, policy dialogue, and practical approaches that help build more resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart agrifood systems across the Greater Mekong Subregion.

#AgrifoodSystems #ClimateSmartAgriculture #NatureBasedSolutions #RegionalPublicGoods #GreaterMekong #FoodSystems #NaturalCapital #MRV #Traceability #ClimateFinance #ADB #GMS #SustainableAgriculture

TA 9916 News Letter – Successful Completion can be downloaded from: TA9916_Newsletter_May 2026