Vientiane Capital, Lao People's Democratic Republic, 12 July 2024 - The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), hosted a stakeholder dialogue workshop on Agro-Biodiversity (ABD) on 10 July 2024.

The workshop, titled "Sub-Sector Working Group on Agro Biodiversity Diversity Stakeholder dialog: Identification and Coordination," brought together government officials, researchers, NGOs, civil society organizations, development partners, and private sector representatives engaged in agro-biodiversity and sustainable agriculture initiatives in Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Dr. Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, Director General of NAFRI, delivered the keynote speech, highlighting Lao PDR's commitment to protecting and restoring its rich biodiversity, as well as the government's efforts to collaborate with various stakeholders to achieve these goals.

"Lao People's Democratic Republic boasts the most forest cover among ASEAN countries, which translates to high biodiversity value," said Dr. Boualaphanh. "However, this rich biodiversity faces threats from deforestation, forest degradation, and climate change. Through this stakeholder dialogue, we aim to strengthen coordination and collaboration to effectively mainstream biodiversity across the agricultural sector."

Kyung-Mee Kim, FAO Representative to Lao People's Democratic Republic, emphasized the importance of agro-biodiversity in ensuring food security, nutrition, and ecosystem resilience. "FAO's collaboration in developing the National Agro-Biodiversity Programme-II underscores our shared commitment to achieving food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable resource management," said Kim.

The workshop's outcomes included an enhanced understanding of policy frameworks, improved collaboration among stakeholders, a clear roadmap for mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, and the utilization of tools like Pha khao Lao and the D4R tool for biodiversity conservation.

The Sub-Sector Working Group on Agro Biodiversity will continue to drive these initiatives forward, working closely with NAFRI, FAO, and other stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and resilient future for Lao PDR's agro-biodiversity.