Khon Kaen, Thailand, October 31, 2025 — The Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) under the Mekong CREATES project, successfully concluded a five-day Regional Training on Postharvest Innovations to Enhance Product Quality and Food Safety from October 27 to 31, 2025, at MI’s Training Center in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Organized by MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization (ADC) Department, the program convened 27 participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV), representing government agencies, research institutions, farmer cooperatives, and private enterprises. The training aimed to strengthen regional capacity to reduce postharvest losses, enhance food-safety management, and improve the competitiveness of fruit and vegetable value chains across the Mekong region.
“Reducing postharvest losses and ensuring food safety are essential to strengthening our agrifood systems, improving farmer livelihoods, and expanding access to high-value markets,” said Orn-uma Polpanich, Director of MI’s ADC Department, in her opening remarks.
The program was designed and facilitated by MI, led by Jun B. Acedo, Postharvest Specialist and former Asia Program Manager at the World Vegetable Center. He was joined by Thai experts Cheunjit Prakitchaiwattana (Chulalongkorn University), Panida Boonyaritthongchai (King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi), and Arnat Leemakdej (Thammasat Business School).
Throughout the week, participants engaged in interactive lectures, group exercises, and field visits to Sumsung Vegetable Cooperative and Tops Market, where they observed practical applications of postharvest handling, packaging, and cold-chain management systems in commercial operations.
A key outcome of the program was the development of country-specific action plans to be implemented within the next three to four months. Each plan outlines targeted innovations to address postharvest challenges unique to each country — for example:
- Cambodia: Strengthening cold-chain systems and improving packaging for horticultural products.
- Lao PDR: Establishing a packhouse and aggregation hub for passion fruit.
- Myanmar: Enhancing postharvest hygiene and food-safety management for leafy vegetables.
- Viet Nam: Applying natural coatings and nanotechnology in fruit processing to extend shelf life and reduce losses.
Collectively, these action plans aim to reduce postharvest losses, enhance food safety, and expand access to both domestic and export markets — building a more resilient and competitive agrifood sector in the Mekong region.
Participants highlighted the program’s timeliness and practical value, as CLMV countries continue to face high postharvest losses, food-safety challenges, and growing consumer and export demands.
“This program deepened our understanding of how to reduce postharvest losses and protect consumer health through better handling, packaging, and compliance with modern standards,” said In Sakara, Executive Director of Face-to-Face Gardens, Cambodia.
From Lao PDR, Chintanaphone Keovichith, Project Manager at the Lao Farmer Association, noted, “We gained both technical and networking benefits — learning about cold-chain management, traceability, and packaging systems while building cross-country collaboration.”
Win Win Maw, Food Safety and Product Development Consultant from Myanmar, emphasized that postharvest innovation “is not just about technology; it is about empowering communities, improving livelihoods, and creating a more inclusive and sustainable food system.”
Representing Viet Nam, Tran Hong Quan, Lecturer at Can Tho University, shared that the training “offered practical tools to strengthen coordination among government, research, and private sectors,” adding that the country action plans will help reduce food losses and enhance market competitiveness.
Together, participants reaffirmed that postharvest innovations and food-safety practices are key drivers of agrifood systems transformation in the Mekong region — linking farmers, businesses, and consumers through shared commitment and regional collaboration.
In her closing remarks, Jutamas Thongcharoen, Program Manager of MI’s ADC Department, thanked MFAT, the resource persons, and participants for their strong engagement and shared vision. She also introduced MI’s forthcoming Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which positions agrifood systems transformation at the heart of MI’s mission — integrating innovation, climate resilience, digitalization, and inclusiveness to drive sustainable and equitable regional growth.
About the Mekong Institute and Mekong CREATES
The Mekong Institute (MI) is an intergovernmental organization serving the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). MI works to strengthen regional cooperation and integration through human resource development, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.
The Mekong Collaboration for Resilient and Equitable Agrifood System Transformation (Mekong CREATES), supported by the New Zealand Government, empowers stakeholders to co-develop innovative, inclusive, and climate-resilient solutions that advance food safety and agrifood competitiveness across the GMS. The project runs from March 2025 to July 2026.
