Regional Technical Forum on Actions to Mitigate Agrochemical Use in Soil, Crop, Livestock and Aquaculture

The agricultural intensification has led to the rapid use of agrochemicals (including pesticides, fertilizers, antimicrobials, and other chemical agents) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region which is of serious concern. Recognizing the substantial challenges posed by hazardous agrochemicals (especially hazardous pesticides) to human health and the environment, the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) issued a statement on reducing the use of harmful agrochemicals for food safety, public health, occupational safety, and environmental protection at the 45th AMAF meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 4 October 2023. At the meeting, Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized that “The excessive use of harmful agrochemicals poses significant threats to our environment, food security, and human health. It is imperative that we take immediate action to reduce their use and promote a transition towards a more sustainable and resilient agri-food system”. The responsible use of agrochemicals remains a pressing challenge in the ASEAN region, requiring a delicate balance between ensuring agricultural productivity for food security and safety of the food produced while safeguarding environmental sustainability and human health. In this context, Great Mekong Sub-region (GMS) countries are stepping up efforts to reduce the use of harmful agrochemicals as the GMS countries seek to safeguard food safety, protect agro-ecosystems and strengthen the long-term sustainability of regional agri-food systems. Following “The regional workshop on agrochemical use and mitigation” in October 2024 in Lao PDR, a crucial next step was taken to to address these challenges at “The regional technical forum on actions to mitigate agrochemical use in soil, crop, livestock and aquaculture”, held on 12 March 2026 in Hanoi, Vietnam. The regional technical forum was organized as part of Intervention Package 1 (Scaling regenerative agrifood system innovations in ASEAN Member States) under the ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program. The event was jointly organized by the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), highlighting the vital role of partnerships in tackling regional agricultural challenges. The forum focused on three key objectives: (i) presenting efforts to mitigate agrochemical use across soil, crop, livestock, and aquaculture sectors; (ii) fostering cross-sectoral and cross-country exchanges from a One Health perspective within the GMS; and (iii) outlining and discussing potential mitigation options of agrochemical use and actional steps. This workshop brought together 40 experts from academia, government agencies, CGIAR centers (including ILRI, IRRI, and CIAT), NGOs (including CABI, FAO, CIRAD), sub-sector associations and the private sector to address the complex challenges of agrochemical use in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). Participants from Lao, Vietnam, Cambodia - representing countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) - came together to address the multifaceted challenges of agrochemical use in the region. By convening experts across diverse fields and countries, the forum served as a catalyst for exchanging best practices and engineering innovative solutions. These insights and outcomes are expected to directly influence regional policy, sharpen research priorities, and spark collaborative initiatives for the sustainable and responsible use of agrochemicals.