Under project “Capacity sharing between national partners in Vietnam and Consumers and Food Environments (CAPSHA)” in 2026 - 2027

Hanoi, March 24, 2026 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam (MAE), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) jointly organize the Regional Conference: “Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Food Systems in Asia and the Pacific” in Hanoi, from March 24–26, 2026.

On March 25, 2026, the first meeting of the National Coordination Unit (CCU) in 2026 under the Better Diets and Nutrition (BDN) Program was held to initiate the implementation plan for research and collaboration activities in Vietnam, while also promoting the implementation of the “Capacity Sharing between National Partners in Vietnam and Consumers and Food Environments (CAPSHA)” initiative in the new phase.

Vietnam and Ireland will shift from project-based cooperation to a strategic policy partnership, aiming to jointly shape the institutional framework and direction for a sustainable transformation of the food system.

From March 3 to 5, 2025, the Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+4) took place at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand. Organized by the FAO Food Systems Coordination Hub, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the event focused on evaluating regional progress in transforming food systems, enhancing accountability, and mobilizing investments for sustainable development.

From February 16 to 21, 2025, the Future Forum: Sustaining Food Systems – “Securing Futures; Bridging Nations, Transforming Nutrition” is held in Siem Reap province and Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The event, organized by the Council of Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) of Cambodia, the GIZ Cluster Climate, Agriculture, and Food System in Cambodia, with the support of the Partner for Change Network of the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), fostered intersectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration. Around 120 partners and experts from Southeast Asia and Africa have participated, including representatives from government institutions, private sector, civil society, and development organizations. Under the scope of the Forum, the participants discussed strategies to bridge food system transformation with climate change mitigation, agriculture, and nutrition, emphasizing social behavior change as a critical element in achieving sustainable food systems.

Diets across Asia are undergoing significant changes due to various factors such as increased dietary energy supply, rising costs of healthy diets, and the growing availability of processed foods. These shifts have contributed to the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while undernutrition continues to persist in some regions.

Transforming food systems is key to ensuring healthier diets for all. A new research brief from the Centre for Food Policy outlines 42 evidence-based policies and actions that can help improve food availability, affordability, and appeal while reducing the consumption of unhealthy processed foods.

With the support of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) on behalf of Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Faculty of Environmental and Occupational Health, Hanoi University of Public Health, is organizing the “Training Workshop on Enhancing Knowledge and Awareness of Food System Transformation for nutrition students’ club”.

Over the years, the transition to green and sustainable agriculture has become a strategic focus for many countries, aiming to address global challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and ecological imbalance. Agroecological models, which incorporate environmentally friendly farming methods, resource reuse, and minimizing negative impacts on ecosystems, are increasingly asserting their importance in building a sustainable food system.

Within the framework of activities to promote the implementation of the “National Action Plan for Transforming Vietnam’s Food System Towards Transparency, Responsibility, and Sustainability by 2030” under Decision No. 300/QĐ-TTg by the Prime Minister at the provincial level, the Sơn La Department of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS), the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), and the National Institute of Nutrition to organize a meeting. The purpose was to share and discuss the current state of Sơn La Province's food system to identify priority issues, stakeholders, and both existing and future resources needed to address these challenges.

As part of Component 2 on "Nutrition-Secured Food Systems" under the initiative "Protecting Food Systems in Major Asian Deltas for Livelihoods and Climate Adaptation (AMD)," the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), in collaboration with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and other partners, organized the consultation meeting on "Developing the Food System Profile for the Mekong Delta Region (MKD)" at CIAT's office on November 27, 2024.