Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, June 16, 2026 – Food safety is becoming a sharper test for Lao PDR’s agrifood sector as farmers, cooperatives and businesses respond to climate pressures, changing markets and rising consumer expectations. Today in Vientiane Capital, national institutions, technical experts, producers, businesses and development partners met to turn food safety lessons into practical routes for wider action.
The Food and Drug Department (FDD), Ministry of Health of Lao PDR, and Mekong Institute (MI), through the Mekong CREATES project, jointly convened the Mekong CREATES Agrifood Systems Forum 2026 under the theme “From Burden to Solutions: Advancing Safe Agrifood Systems in Lao PDR.”
Held in observance of World Food Safety Day 2026, whose global theme is “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere,” the forum brought together more than 50 representatives from government agencies, academia, the private sector, farmer organizations, development partners, and Mekong CREATES alumni.
The forum focused on a clear priority: moving from discussions to action. Participants examined ways to strengthen food safety governance, improve sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems, promote traceability and standards, and support farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, and agribusinesses to meet market and consumer requirements.
Opening the forum, Souksomkhouane Chanthamat, Director General of the Food and Drug Department, Ministry of Health of Lao PDR, said food safety is not only a public health priority, but also a foundation for food security, economic development, trade competitiveness, and consumer confidence. He called for a stronger coordinated action across sectors to ensure safe food from farm to table and to support Lao PDR’s sustainable development goals.
In her welcome remarks, Orn-uma Polpanich, Director of the Green Transition and Nexus Solutions Department at MI, said food safety and climate resilience are now closely linked across agrifood systems across in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). She highlighted that partnerships, practical skills, and local capacity development are essential to helping producers, businesses and institutions respond.
The morning sessions examined emerging food safety risks and policy responses in Lao PDR through a One Health lens, recognizing the close links between human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Participants also explored opportunities to strengthen SPS systems, food safety standards, traceability mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks that support agricultural production, market access, and consumer protection.
A session on scalable solutions showcased practical experiences from farmers, agribusinesses, and innovators working to improve food safety in agrifood value chains. Presentations highlighted safe production practices led by farmers, traceability systems for export markets, food safety standards, and market-oriented approaches that can improve product quality, strengthen consumer trust, and create better opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
A central feature of the forum was the Mekong CREATES Learning Lab, where alumni and partners reviewed project-supported initiatives and identified priorities for the next stage of action. Participants pointed to clear gains, including wider sharing of food safety knowledge, stronger partnerships between cooperatives and buyers, improved awareness of food hygiene standards, practical demonstrations, and the development of policy briefs and tools.
Participants also identified barriers that must be addressed if solutions are to reach more people. These include limited financing, high investment costs, lack of equipment and local manufacturers, limited research and development support, digital literacy gaps among farmers, and the need for stronger communication and coordination.
Looking ahead, participants identified four priority pathways for the next three years: stronger capacity, enabling policies, strategic investment, and deeper partnerships. Proposed actions include expanding training on food hygiene, digital tools, biocontrol and food safety assessment and standards; improving policy development and advocacy; increasing access to green and climate finance; supporting equipment and infrastructure for farmer organizations and SMEs; and strengthening laboratory, inspection, and traceability systems.
The message from the forum was clear. Lao PDR already has practical food safety solutions, committed institutions and active producers working to improve agrifood systems. What is needed now is the policy support, investment, and long-term collaboration to take those solutions further.
The forum concluded with a shared call to turn knowledge into action and build safer, more resilient agrifood systems that protect consumers, support farmers and help Lao PDR compete in higher-value markets.
About Mekong CREATES
Mekong CREATES, or Mekong Capacity-Building for Resilient and Enhanced Agricultural Technologies and Food Systems, is implemented by MI with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The project works with partners in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam to strengthen capacity, collaboration, and practical action for safer, more resilient, and more sustainable agrifood systems.
