Something’s cooking in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), and it promises to be good. Ten years ago, ministers of agriculture from Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China ((PRC), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam met to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the subregion.

Little did they know those discussions would yield commitments honored today that promote greater cooperation among the countries in support of their farmers. In September 2017, GMS ministers endorsed the Strategy for Promoting Safe and Environment-Friendly Agro-Based Value Chains in the GMS, and Siem Reap Action Plan for 2018-2022. The strategy’s ambitious goal is to transform GMS agriculture systems into leading global suppliers of safe and environment-friendly agriculture products (SEAP).

The vision resonates. It is supported in part by years of stable economic growth, averaging 7.5% per capita since 1992... — blog.adb.org/blogs