Bangkok, Thailand – 25 July 2025 – The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) held its 18th General Assembly Meeting (GAM) in Bangkok, Thailand, in a hybrid format. The meeting brought together representatives from 11 member countries and 6 associate members, under the chairmanship of Prof. Lindsay Falvey, Commissioner for International Agricultural Research, ACIAR, Australia. The Assembly reviewed progress, endorsed key governance decisions, strengthened partnerships, and elected new leadership to guide the organization through 2026.
Newly elected member countries and institutions and New Executive Committee leadership include:
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, The Philippines, and from the higher education sector – Vignan University, India.
- Chairperson: Dr. Reynaldo Ebora, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD)
- Vice Chairperson: Dr. Prabhath Wimal Kumara, Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP)
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Acknowledgements
Dr. Ravi Khetarpal, Executive Director, APAARI, and his team gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following representatives:
- Ms. Susmita Islam, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh
- Dr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC)
- Dr. Shalendra Prasad, Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways, Republic of Fiji
- Dr. Aniadila Binti Kamaruddin, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)
- Dr. Peter Aglua Gendua, National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Papua New Guinea
- Dr. Tran Minh Tien, Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, MARD, Viet Nam
- Dr. Fiame Leo, The Scientific Research Organization of Samoa (SROS) / Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), Samoa
- Dr. Tick Nouanthavong, National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Lao PDR
- Dr. Kyung-Tai Lee, Rural Development Administration (RDA), South Korea
- Dr. Chanthy Pol, Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)
- Dr. Rinzin Wangchuk, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan
- Dr. Babar Bajwa, Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI)
- Dr. Sabyan Faris Honey, Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI)
- Dr. Norihito Kanamori, Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)
- Dr. Francios Stepman, Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAiR)
- Dr. Rida Shibli, Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East & North Africa (AARINENA)
- Dr. Botir Dosov, Central Asia and the Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (CACAARI)
- Dr. Abid Hussain, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
- Dr. Jeya Kumar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)
- Dr. Ramesh Babu, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology & Research
