Theme: “Accelerating Application of Agricultural Technologies in the Asia-Monsoon Region: Taking Stock and the Way Forward for Enhancing Production Potentials and Sustainable Food Systems”

It has been four years since the UN Secretary-General convened the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021, placing food at the heart of global efforts to end poverty, eliminate hunger, reduce inequalities, combat climate change, and protect biodiversity.

Prior to that milestone event, in May 2021, Japan formulated the Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems “MIDORI”, which aimed to enhance agricultural productivity potential and sustainability through innovation.

Since then, the world has witnessed remarkable changes and increasing uncertainties in the global food system landscape. As the world struggled to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a series of geopolitical events raised concerns over food security, with the prices of fuel, fertilizer, and food reaching record highs in 2022—particularly in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, rising global temperatures continue to impact food production. In January 2025, it was confirmed that 2024 was the hottest calendar year on record, with the average temperature exceeding the pre-industrial level by 1.5°C for the first time—the threshold set by the Paris Agreement.

Despite these challenges, momentum is building behind food systems transformation at the global, regional, and national levels. For example:

• At COP28, the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action was adopted in December 2023, calling for sustainable development of the agri-food sector and stronger collaborative measures to tackle climate change.
• In the Asia–Monsoon region, particularly Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture were adopted in October 2022, followed by the Japan–ASEAN MIDORI Cooperation Plan in October 2023.
• Ahead of COP30, in June 2025, the Japanese Government unveiled the “MIDORI Infinity” initiative (Initiative for Net-zero compatible with Food Security through International expansion of Japan’s Innovative Technology). This aims to scale up Japan’s GHG emission reduction technologies and attract decarbonization investment in the agriculture and food sectors across the Global South.

Amid these developments, the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) has been implementing the Green Asia Project in collaboration with research institutes in Japan and across the Asia–Monsoon region. The project, scheduled to conclude in March 2026, has contributed to advancing research and innovation toward sustainable food systems.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming JIRCAS International Symposium 2025 will take stock of various initiatives driving food system transformation from a global perspective, with a particular focus on the Green Asia Project. The symposium will showcase key achievements and draw lessons applicable to other contexts, offering valuable insights for the future of sustainable agriculture in the region.

Event Details

Date: 27 October 2025 (Mon)

• Time: 13:30 – 17:30 (JST)
• Place: Hybrid (Hitotsubashi Hall & Online)
• Program
• Registration Deadline: 27 October 2025 (Mon), 12:00 (JST)
• Register here

The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP), an intergovernmental and autonomous organization established in 1979 under an international agreement facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, continues its mission to improve rural livelihoods across the Asia-Pacific region. Headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh, CIRDAP currently comprises 15 member countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, and actively works toward expanding its membership.

Since its inception, CIRDAP has been dedicated to promoting integrated rural development through knowledge sharing, policy support, and capacity-building initiatives. Its programs focus on enhancing the quality of life of rural communities and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth across member countries.

In line with this mission, CIRDAP, in collaboration with its MoU partner Rural Economic and Educational Development Society (REEDS), has recently launched the International Rural Development Innovation Challenge 2026. This initiative aims to identify, support, and promote low-cost, locally driven innovations emerging from CIRDAP Member Countries (CMCs) that address complex rural challenges while strengthening regional cooperation.

The Challenge invites participation from all 15 member countries. Submissions will be evaluated by an eminent jury committee, and the five most promising innovations will each receive a cash award along with Certificates of Recognition. An additional ten innovations will be honored with Certificates of Appreciation. All submissions will be documented and published in an international compendium, highlighting innovative practices across the region.

• Last Date of Submission : 28 February 2026

Awardees will also have the unique opportunity to present their innovations at an International Conference in Sri Lanka, where they can engage with policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts, sharing their work and scaling its impact.

For more information, including guidelines for participation, please refer to the brochure and poster available on the CIRDAP website.

CIRDAP encourages active participation and invites stakeholders to share this initiative widely to foster collaboration and innovation across the Asia-Pacific region.

Contact Details: 

Ms. Hurain Jannat, Communication Officer, CIRDAP communication
communication_officer@cirdap.org
WhatsApp: +880 1741589228

Bioeconomy strategies allow catalyzing the transition to more efficient and responsible agrifood value chains, while reducing pressures on the global environment (like climate change, and biodiversity loss) concurrently. Global interest in bioeconomy is accelerating but cooperation remains fragmented, prompting calls for more coherence and cooperation. The G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy agreed on ten high-level principles to guide the development of sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven bioeconomy pathways. COP30 (Brazil) features bioeconomy, and UNEP’s Climate Technology Progress Report 2025 focuses on bioeconomy.

Cutting food loss and waste (FLW) and enhancing circularity are strategic entry points. Countries in Asia and the Pacific (China, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Korea, India) have taken significant steps forward, complemented by ASEAN frameworks such as the Framework for Circular Economy and the ASEAN Action Plan on Sustainable Agriculture. Bioeconomy is also part of the Jaipur Declaration on 3R and Circular Economy (2025–2035). FAO has made bioeconomy a Programme Priority Area under its “Better Environment” pillar of the Strategic Framework 2022–2031.

Visit here for more details :  FAO Bioeconomy in Asia and the Pacific – BIIF 2025

Date: 27th-28th October 2025
Time: 20:00 CET
Hosted by: International Safe Cassava Network and The Global Plant Council
Chair: Prof Ros Gleadow

• Day 1: Konzo is a poorly understood neurological disease linked to exposure to cyanogens from improperly processed cassava. This session will explore konzo from a clinical perspective, and provide insights into its pathophysiology and treatment options.
  – Register here 
• Day 2: Cassava is a highly productive and important food security crop. It is also the only staple crop that can be toxic to humans under certain conditions. Cassava contains cyanogenic glucosides which can release toxic cyanide. This session will discuss the importance of cassava and ways to improve its safety through breeding and genome editing.
  – Register here

Main Language: English

Knowledge Management (KM) plays a pivotal role in connecting research and policy, ensuring that evidence and innovations effectively inform decision-making. This session will highlight strategies, tools, and practical cases where KM has driven agricultural transformation through stronger research–policy linkages.

The webinar will provide participants with fresh insights into how KM strengthens evidence-informed policymaking and contributes to sustainable agricultural development across Africa.

This session is designed for KM professionals, agricultural researchers, policymakers, regional networks, development partners, and donor agencies.

The Knowledge Management for Agriculture Development (KM4AgD) Community of Practice (CoP), hosted by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), is pleased to invite you to its upcoming bi-monthly webinar:
Theme: Bridging KM, Research and Policy for Agricultural Transformation
Date: Thursday, 11 September 2025
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 GMT+0
Venue: Virtual via Zoom

Register here to join the conversation.

Guest Speaker

• Michael Victor – Head of Communications, Advocacy & Knowledge Management, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Facilitators

• Mabel Lum Shu – CoP Facilitator, WACSI
• Bebel Nguepi – CoP Facilitator, AFAAS

Host

• Benjamin Abugri – Cluster Lead, Knowledge Management, Digitalization & Learning (KMDL), FARA

Why Attend?

Explore the role of KM in strengthening research uptake and policy influence
Learn practical strategies and tools for linking KM to policy processes
Gain insights from lived experiences and institutional best practices

Read more and check the agenda

Dates: November 2–7, 2025
Venue: Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, India

The International Fusarium Laboratory Workshop 2025 will be hosted at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, India, from November 2 to 7, 2025. This important scientific event is organized by:

• National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), Agharkar Research Institute
  
• ICAR – National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM)
  

The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) is pleased to co-organize this event and support efforts to strengthen diagnostic and research capacities in fungal science across the region.

This intensive workshop will be led by internationally recognized experts in Fusarium research and diagnostics. Participants will receive hands-on training in morphological, genetic, and molecular biological techniques used to identify and characterize Fusarium strains relevant to agriculture, medicine, and allied sectors.

Key learning areas will include:

• Identification of Fusarium species based on morphological traits
  
• Vegetative Compatibility Group (VCG) and cross-fertility assays
  
• DNA extraction, PCR amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis
  

The program will be entirely dedicated to laboratory-based training using standard Fusarium strains, providing participants with practical skills and foundational knowledge to support research and diagnostic work in their respective institutions.

Click here to read more

Contact:
Dr. Sanjay Singh
Scientist ‘G’
Biodiversity and Palaeobiology
Agharkar Research Institute
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar Road
Pune 411004, India
sksingh@aripune.org