Khon Kaen, Thailand, October 6, 2025 — The Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), successfully concluded a five-day Regional Training on Climate-Smart Agriculture for Sustainable and Safe Crop Production (October 6-10, 2025), at its Training Center in Khon Kaen, Thailand.
The program brought together 28 participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV), representing government agencies, academic institutions, private sector actors, and development organizations committed to advancing sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture across the Mekong region. Conducted under the Mekong CREATES Project (Mekong Capacity-Building for Resilient and Enhanced Agricultural Technologies and Food Systems), this training aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) technologies and innovations to enhance both productivity and food safety in changing climate conditions.
“Climate change is already affecting the productivity, safety, and stability of our food systems,” said Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of MI, during his opening remarks. “Through this training, we aim to strengthen regional capacity and foster collaboration so that our farmers and food systems can better adapt to climate risks while safeguarding food quality and public health.”
Field Learning and Knowledge Exchange
Over the course of the training, participants engaged in lectures, group discussions, and field learning visits. A highlight of the training was a structured learning visit to the Livelihoods Fund project site in Chaiyaphum Province and Mekin Farm in Khon Kaen Province, where participants observed how Thai farmers are applying regenerative and precision agriculture techniques to manage soil, water, and crop health.
“The field visits gave us valuable insights into how technologies are applied in operational farms, said Mr. Suthee Janyasuthiwong, a participant and lecturer from Kasetsart University. “Seeing how farmers integrate climate-smart practices inspired us to adapt similar approaches in our own contexts.”
During the sessions, Mr. Kim Fooyontphanich, Lead Trainer and Senior Project Manager of the Livelihoods Fund, emphasized that “Climate-smart agriculture is not just about technology -it is about transforming the way we think, plan, and act to make farming systems more resilient and environmentally sound.”
Resource experts from Kasetsart University, ListenField Co., Ltd., and Bugzi Thailand also introduced participants to smart farming tools such as digital monitoring systems, IoT-based applications, biocontrol innovations, and regenerative agriculture techniques for sustainable crop production.
Action Plans for Lasting Impact
As part of the training outcomes, participants developed Action Plans to apply CSA practices within their institutions and local communities over the next three to six months. These plans outline practical steps for disseminating knowledge to smallholder farmers and promoting broader adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the CLMV countries.
“Your action plans mark the beginning of real change, where local innovation meets regional cooperation, to secure a safer and more resilient food future for the Mekong region,” said Ms. Orn-uma Polpanich, Director of MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department during the closing ceremony. She encouraged participants to champion climate-smart and food-safe agricultural practices in their respective countries.
Looking Ahead
The regional training on climate-smart agriculture underscores MI’s ongoing commitment to building adaptive, sustainable, and food-safe agricultural systems in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Through continued partnership with local, national and regional stakeholders, MI strives to equip local actors with the tools and knowledge needed to transform agriculture into a driver of resilience and inclusive growth.
