Challenges for the Institutionalization of Agroecology in the Lao PDR

-Agroecology has gained greater political recognition through the Lao facilitated Initiative on Agroecology for ASEAN (LICA)
-The policy framework supporting agroecological transition has been strengthened in recent years but public policies still lack concrete instruments to encourage agroecological transition.
-At local level, concrete actions supporting agroecology transition have been successfully implemented but are highly dependent on projects. Their lifespan may be limited if international support is withdrawn.
-Policies supporting agroecology transition are still based on a narrowing representation of agroecology, focusing more on changing agricultural practices than on a profound transformation of the food system.
-The broad dimension of agroecology (including social, gender, youth… dimensions) is not well institutionalized -Various policies still support unsustainable cash-crops development

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Additional Info

Field Value
Type of ALiSEA product Agroecology Insights
Title Challenges for the Institutionalization of Agroecology in the Lao PDR
Description -Agroecology has gained greater political recognition through the Lao facilitated Initiative on Agroecology for ASEAN (LICA) -The policy framework supporting agroecological transition has been strengthened in recent years but public policies still lack concrete instruments to encourage agroecological transition. -At local level, concrete actions supporting agroecology transition have been successfully implemented but are highly dependent on projects. Their lifespan may be limited if international support is withdrawn. -Policies supporting agroecology transition are still based on a narrowing representation of agroecology, focusing more on changing agricultural practices than on a profound transformation of the food system. -The broad dimension of agroecology (including social, gender, youth… dimensions) is not well institutionalized -Various policies still support unsustainable cash-crops development
Agroecology Category Supportive policies
Agroecology Keyword
  • Enabling policy
  • Sustainable land use policy
Contributing organisations CIRAD, GRET, NUoL, UMR
Author Stéphane Guéneau, Maiyer Xiong
Year 2025
Type of document Policy guidance
Language English
Country Lao PDR
Administrative Level 1
Administrative Level 2
Web Link