In June of 2012, representatives of over 140 nations are expected to take part in the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development€. The conference €“ scheduled 20 years after the first Rio conference saw an agreement that the United Nations must do something to address environmental degradation and global warming €“ is expected to focus heavily on the concept of the green economy€. The green economy€ includes the idea that livelihoods, growth and environmental sustainability must go hand-in-hand in developing countries. While the concept itself may be laudable, it will be an unattainable ideal unless governments show a willingness to adopt a new development model €“ one based on human rights as opposed to profit for elites. A key example of the need for change €“ both in terms of the right to livelihood, environmental sustainability and the right to sufficient and nutritious food €“ is the agriculture sector. This paper seeks to address fundamental questions about the agriculture sector in Southeast Asia and China and to begin to sketch what a way forward €“ a way towards the green economy€ €“ may look like.
