Khon Kaen, January 30, 2026 – The Mekong Institute (MI), with the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), successfully concluded a five-day Regional Training Program on Traceability Systems for Market Access and Food Safety Compliance, held from January 26-30, 2026, at its Training Center in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

The training brought together mid- to senior-level professionals from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV), representing government agencies, academic institutions, agribusinesses, and development organizations. Implemented under the Mekong CREATES Project (Mekong Capacity-Building for Resilient and Enhanced Agricultural Technologies and Food Systems), the training responded to growing regional and global demands for safer food, greater transparency, and compliance with international market requirements.

“Traceability is no longer optional – it is a foundation to food safety, consumer trust, and access to high-value markets,” said Ms. Orn-uma Polpanich, Director of MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department, during the closing session. “This training equips regional actors move from fragmented, paper-based approaches toward integrated, practical, and interoperable traceability systems.”

Bridging Policy, Practice, and Business Realities

Over the course of five days, participants engaged in expert-led lectures, hands-on group exercises, case studies, and peer-learning sessions covering traceability fundamentals, One Health linkages, regulatory and buyer requirements, international standards, and digital solutions. Particular attention was given to the realities faced by small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), positioning traceability not only as a compliance tool, but also as a driver of competitiveness, resilience, and market differentiation.

A central component of the training was guided value chain mapping and traceability self-assessment. This enabled participants to identify critical control points, data gaps, and feasible entry points for introducing or strengthening traceability implementation within their own organizations and value chains.

“Understanding traceability as a system rather than a single tool changed how we think about food safety, market access, and digitalization,” noted a private sector participant. “The step-by-step approach makes implementation more realistic, especially for SMEs.”

Learning from Industry and Markets

The training integrated strong private-sector and market perspectives. Participants learned directly from agribusinesses, buyers, technology providers, and international organizations on evolving global requirements and practical transition pathways from paper-based to digital systems.

A structured learning visit to Makro (CP Axtra Public Company Limited) offered participants first-hand exposure to traceability practices in a modern retail environment, demonstrating how data capture, documentation, and information flows support food safety and supply chain transparency in practice.

Experts from international organizations, universities, GS1, and the private sector shared insights on universal traceability standards and emerging digital solutions shaping agri-food trade.

From Training to Action

As a core outcome of the training, participants developed context-specific traceability action plans, outlining short-, medium-, and long-term steps to strengthen traceability systems within their institutions and countries. Designed for incremental implementation and future scaling, these plans aim to contribute to safer food systems and improved market access across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).

“Your action plans demonstrate how learning can be translated into concrete action,” Dr. Orn-uma, added. “By applying them, you are helping to build more transparent, trusted, and resilient agri-food value chains across the region.”

Looking Ahead

The Regional Training on Traceability Systems underscores the Mekong Institute’s continued commitment to food safety, regulatory compliance, and inclusive market access in the GMS. Through the Mekong CREATES Project and sustained partnership with MFAT and regional stakeholders, MI will continue to strengthen institutional capacity and promote cross-border collaboration to advance resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

For more information about the MEKONG CREATES project, visit: www.mekonginstitute.org/mekong-capacity-building-for-resilient-and-enhanced-agricultural-technologies-and-food-systems/