BACKGROUND
Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of the Mekong region, employing a significant share of the population and contributing substantially to the subregion’s GDP. At the same time, the sector is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly from rice cultivation, livestock production, fertilizer use, and land management practices. These pressures are compounded by low productivity, fragmented supply chains, limited access to innovative technologies, and increasing vulnerability to climate change, including more frequent droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
As agriculture remains vital for both domestic consumption and international trade, there is an urgent need for a paradigm shift toward low-carbon, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient agricultural systems. Addressing agricultural carbon footprints is therefore critical, particularly within the context of Mekong subregional cooperation, where countries share similar agro-ecological conditions, production systems, and climate risks. Regional collaboration enables the exchange of knowledge, tools, and policy approaches to reduce emissions while safeguarding food security and rural livelihoods.
The Mekong CONNECT: Facilitating Agricultural Resilience and Modernization through Collaboration, Networking, Empowerment, Capacity-building, and Technology project, supported by the Mekong–ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF), responds to these challenges by promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA), sustainable technologies, and public–private partnerships (PPPs). Through collaboration among Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, the project seeks to integrate low-carbon practices and innovative solutions into agricultural supply chains, strengthen resilience, and support environmental sustainability while enhancing competitiveness.
OBJECTIVES
Under Component 2, the Regional Training Program on Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies in Agriculture focuses on strengthening institutional and technical capacities to measure, manage, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agricultural sector. The training complements other regional programs on smart agriculture technologies and digital trade facilitation by emphasizing mitigation-oriented practices, carbon accounting methodologies, and enabling policy and financing frameworks. Building on earlier regional initiatives, the program provides a platform for knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and hands-on capacity development, ensuring that participants not only understand carbon footprint reduction approaches but also gain practical experience that can be adapted and implemented in their home countries.
This regional training will bring together policymakers, academic and research institutions, technical agencies, and private sector actors from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam to:
Share practical experiences and emerging approaches to agricultural carbon footprint reduction;
Strengthen understanding of carbon accounting tools and methodologies applicable to agriculture;
Explore policy, financing, and public–private partnership (PPP) mechanisms that support low-carbon agriculture; and
Build institutional capacity through peer learning and applied exercises.
By connecting technical experts, policy institutions, and practitioners, the training aims to enhance regional coherence and mutual learning on carbon footprint reduction in agriculture. It supports the development of a more climate-resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable agricultural system in the Mekong region, while reinforcing the broader objectives of Mekong CONNECT to modernize agriculture through collaboration, capacity building, and technology.
PARTICIPANTS
The regional training program will convene a diverse group of stakeholders from across the Mekong countries who are directly engaged in advancing agricultural resilience and modernization. Participants will represent a cross-section of small-holder farmers, agricultural cooperatives, government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector partners. Their active participation will ensure that the training is grounded in real regional needs, strengthened by peer learning, and supported by collaboration among multiple stakeholders.
Specifically, participants will include:
- Smallholder Farmers and Cooperatives: Farmers’ groups and agricultural cooperatives are at the forefront of this program. They face challenges of low productivity, limited access to technology, and vulnerability to climate change. Participation in the training will equip them with knowledge of carbon footprint reduction strategies and CSA practices, enabling improved crop management, resource efficiency, and productivity.
- Government Agencies: Senior officials and technical staff from relevant ministries and departments (e.g., agriculture, environment, climate change) across CLMTV countries. They will play a critical role in scaling CSA technologies, integrating carbon footprint reduction into agricultural policies, and ensuring sustainability through institutional frameworks.
- Academic and Research Institutions: Representatives from universities and research organizations who will contribute to curriculum development, training delivery, and mentorship. Their role is to build long-term expertise, document replicability, and provide evidence-based knowledge for scaling carbon reduction solutions.
Private Sector: Agri-tech companies, technology providers, agribusinesses, and service companies involved in sustainable inputs, smart farming tools, and low-carbon technologies. They will share innovations, provide technical support, and explore opportunities for collaboration through PPPs.
This mix of participants ensures that the training supports knowledge exchange, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and practical application of carbon footprint reduction strategies at the farm, institutional, and policy levels.
LEARNINGAPPROACH
This regional training embraces a dynamic, participant-driven learning approach that combines: embraces a dynamic, participant-driven learning approach that combines:
- Expert talks from specialists in climate-smart agriculture, carbon footprint assessment, and sustainable farming technologies.
- Group discussions to share country experiences, identify common challenges, and co-develop regional solutions.
- Case studies showcasing successful carbon reduction practices in rice cultivation, livestock management, fertilizer innovations, and AgTech applications across the Mekong region.
- Hands-on sessions using carbon assessment tools (e.g., FAO Ex-ACT, Cool Farm Tool) and digital MRV systems.
- Field visit to observe real-world CSA practices that demonstrate emission reduction strategies and resource efficiency.
- Action planning exercises to translate learning into practical country-level strategies aligned with national climate targets (NDCs) and the SDGs.
EXPECTEDOUTCOMES
By the end of this regional training, participants are expected to:
- Demonstrate a clear and practical understanding of low-carbon agriculture and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) principles, including key sources of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and viable mitigation options.
- Apply carbon accounting concepts and tools to assess and manage agricultural emissions at farm, program, or institutional levels, supporting evidence-based decision-making and alignment with national climate targets (NDCs).
- Develop institutional or country-specific integration pathways, identifying
feasible steps to embed carbon footprint reduction strategies into ongoing initiatives. - Enhance regional collaboration and peer learning, strengthening a network of smart and low-carbon agriculture champions across CLMTV countries to support continued knowledge exchange and cooperation.
CONTACT
Ms. Guohua Liu
Director
Sustainable Energy and Environment Department
Mekong Institute
Tel: + 66 (0) 4320 2411 Ext. 4100
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Yupaporn Siribut
Program Officer
Sustainable Energy and Environment Department
Mekong Institute
Tel: + 66 (0) 4320 2411 Ext. 4104
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Yupaporn Siribut
Program Officer
Sustainable Energy and Environment Department
Mekong Institute
Tel: + 66 (0) 4320 2411 Ext. 4104
Email: [email protected]
