Agrifood systems in the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, facing intensifying risks from floods, droughts, and shifting weather patterns. At the same time, agriculture remains a key contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, notably methane and nitrous oxide. Yet, the sector also offers substantial potential for mitigation and adaptation through the adoption of climate-smart technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, and evidence-based policy support.

Over recent years, the region has witnessed growing momentum in scaling up solutions. The MIDORI, Paris Agreement, and Collaboration (MPAC) project, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan and implemented by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), has fostered regional collaboration and knowledge exchange on a range of low-emission technologies, including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rice, biochar applications, and improved livestock feed through various workshops organized by the project. It has also supported policy uptake and enhanced transparency in the agriculture sector, contributing to the development of institutional frameworks and MRV systems aligned with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement across multiple countries.

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), through its Technical Cooperation Programme, is supporting Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam in strengthening their readiness to engage in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The project aims to build country capacity to design mitigation activities across the agrifood sector that are ready for investment — including agriculture, livestock, forestry, land use, energy, and waste — by supporting the development of national readiness roadmaps and aligning with emerging policies and regulatory frameworks.

This includes a specific focus on adopting a landscape approach to land and carbon governance, which involves managing land use and natural resources across a broader area to maximize carbon sequestration, reduce deforestation, and enhance ecosystem services. This is particularly critical in the context of fast-growing agricultural commodities like coffee and black pepper, where the rapid expansion of monoculture and intensive farming has historically led to forest conversion and land degradation. This approach considers the interconnectedness of different land uses (e.g., forests, agriculture, pastureland) and aims to balance economic benefits with environmental sustainability and social equity. Working closely with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), the project facilitates technical assessments, consultations, and roadmap planning at both national and regional levels.

This workshop will serve as a key milestone to further develop country-specific Article 6 roadmaps and identify practical next steps for piloting carbon market engagement in agrifood systems. It will also offer space for peer learning, technical exchange, and early engagement with potential partners, including carbon project developers.

Within the framework of the Global Climate Promise initiative, UNDP is supporting the Government of Vietnam in strengthening technical capacity for its national MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) system to track and mitigate emissions and monitor climate finance. The project also supports the enhancement of government technical and financial capacity for NDC implementation and the development of a carbon market.

In light of the enhanced clarity provided by COP29 on the operationalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and building on ongoing regional projects and initiatives, this regional workshop aims to strengthen the technical, institutional, and policy capacities of Asia-Pacific countries to engage effectively in international carbon markets. It will serve as a platform to explore how agrifood systems, a priority sector for both mitigation and adaptation, can leverage emerging carbon finance opportunities under Articles 6.2 and 6.4. The workshop will also support the alignment of national efforts with regional frameworks and global partnerships and policy frameworks, fostering integrated and coordinated approaches to climate action in the sector.

This regional workshop is expected to contribute directly to strengthening national readiness, enhancing cross-country collaboration, and accelerating the uptake of climate finance opportunities in agrifood systems through carbon markets. Expected outcomes include:

• Increased awareness and technical understanding of scalable low-emission technologies
• Shared understanding of national and regional priorities for aligning agrifood contributions to national and global climate market and policy mechanisms
• Opportunities mapped for collaboration through Article 6 market mechanisms including JCM and other carbon market mechanisms and climate finance mechanisms such as GCF, GEF, FRLD and Adaptation Fund
• Defined clear follow-up actions for project and partnership development
• Strengthened regional networks and communities of practice

To ensure a multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral dialogue, the workshop will bring together a diverse group of actors engaged in climate action, agricultural development, and carbon market mechanisms. Target participants include: 

• Government officials from agriculture, environment, and finance ministries
• MDBs, IFIs
• Climate policymakers and NDC focal points for agriculture
• Technical experts and researchers
• Representatives of farmer organizations and civil society
• Private sector and agri-tech innovators
• Development partners and international organizations

This workshop is jointly organized by leading technical and development institutions working on advancing low-emission and climate-resilient agrifood systems across the region:

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
• Mekong Institute (MI)
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF)

Supporting partners:

• ASEAN Secretariat
• Japanese organizations/institutions including JICA
• GCF
• Regional R&D institutions

Private sector participants (invited through EoI process):

• Faeger
• Green Carbon
• Carbon Farm
• Sagri
• Ajinomoto
• Varaha
• Eco Pork