Ms. Maria Theresa Medialdia, Director of the Agricultural Development and Commercialization (ADC) Department and Dr. Jun Acedo, ADC Senior Program Specialist, joined the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Mekong Extension Learning Alliance (MELA) on October 30 – November 1, 2017 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

Ms. Medialdia, representing Mekong Institute in MELA’s Coordinating Committee, served as session moderator, while Dr. Acedo presented a poster titled, “Agri-Food Safety Extension Strategy and Outcomes in the GMS.” The poster presents regional and country initiatives on food safety facilitated through the MI Food Safety Project supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP). 

The MI team joined about 50 other guests from the public and private sectors, non-government organizations and donor agencies working in agricultural extension for the three-day knowledge sharing and network-building event. The meeting also discussed the MELA action plan and fundraising strategy. 

MELA is a gathering of stakeholders working in agricultural extension and rural advisory services in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Inaugurated in 2015, the alliance seeks to advance regional cooperation and promote the interests of smallholder farmers through the exchange of knowledge and creation of networks. Mekong Institute’s participation in the alliance attests to its expressed commitment to improving agricultural productivity in the region.