The Mekong Institute (MI), with support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), introduced the Mekong CREATES (Mekong Capacity-Building for Resilient and Enhanced Agricultural Technologies and Food Systems) through a series of national inception meetings held in Cambodia (June 19), Lao PDR (June 26), Viet Nam (July 3), and Myanmar (July 8).
Each meeting convened over 30 representatives from key government ministries, academic and research institutions, development partners, and private sector actors, with the goal of localizing project strategies and catalyzing national-level engagement in the region’s transition toward safer and more climate-resilient food systems.
“Mekong CREATES is not just a project. It is a transition initiative for a long-term commitment to build capacity, strengthen partnerships, and empower stakeholders to transform the food systems in our region,” said Ms. Jutamas Thongcharoen, Program Manager and Team Leader of MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department.
Each inception meeting showcased promising practices and policy innovations relevant to national priorities. In Cambodia, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Fresh Milk Co., Ltd. presented climate-resilient and food-safe production models. In Lao PDR, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), National University of Laos, and the Lao Women’s Union shared insights on food safety governance, production standards, and the importance of safe food for women and children’s well-being. Meanwhile, in Viet Nam, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) introduced circular economy and low-carbon agriculture approaches as scalable solutions to enhance both food safety and climate resilience.
In Myanmar, a panel discussion featured panelists from the private sector and civil society organizations. They explored how the country is navigating institutional fragility and climate disruptions while promoting food safety. Key insights included strategies for climate-adaptive agricultural practices, the role of women-led innovations, and the need for inclusive partnerships to support resilience-building efforts.
The meetings concluded with the presentation of the Mekong CONNECT and CREATES Community of Practice (CoP), a regional platform jointly established under both the Mekong CONNECT (Facilitating Agricultural Resilience and Modernization through Collaboration, Networking, Empowerment, Capacity Building, and Technology) and Mekong CREATES projects. The CoP aims to sustain collaboration, promote cross-country learning, and scale up good practices in food safety and climate-smart agriculture across the Mekong region.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of MI, emphasized the importance of continuity and regional ownership.
“We are not starting from scratch. Mekong CREATES is a next step — building on past efforts, connecting current knowledge, and creating new spaces for action. Together, we are co-creating a future where food systems in the Mekong region are safer, smarter, and more sustainable.”
The national inception meetings were organized as back-to-back events with the Mekong CONNECT National Collaboration Workshops, which foster public-private partnerships on climate-smart agriculture (CSA).
Mekong CREATES is an 18-month initiative under MI’s Agricultural Development and Commercialization thematic area. It supports the transformation of the Greater Mekong Subregion’s food systems by integrating CSA and food safety measures through capacity-building, policy dialogue, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
