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Fifth Meeting of the Working Group on Agriculture (WGA-5)

This annual meeting is designed to update the Greater Mekong Subregion Working Group on Agriculture (GMS WGA) on the progress of the Core Agriculture Support Program (CASP) and discuss important issues relevant to food and energy security.

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• To identify priority strategic interventions in subregional agricultural cooperation to address critical food and energy security and climate change concerns
• To review and refocus WGA? work program towards speedy implementation of priority initiatives under the Core Agriculture Support Program as an integral component of the Vientiane Plan of Action
• To catalyze support from development partners to implement CASP initiatives

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• Agreements on implementation of CASP priority projects and mobilization of external resources
• Appreciation for achievements of CASP in the areas of advanced agricultural science and technology, agriculture information network service, and transboundary animal disease control
• Endorsement of the Regional Strategic Framework for Rural Renewable Energy Development
• Recommendations on how to strengthen CASP? trade component including cross-border contract farming, regional food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and demand and supply of key agriculture products and cross-border agriculture resource and market information system
• Increased policy awareness on the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security
• Refinement of the proposed Regional Technical Assistance on accelerating the implementation of the CASP

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Participation is by invitation only

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• Updates on the CASP Priority Projects
  Ms.Marilou Drilon, ADB
• Advanced Agricultural Science and Technology: Forward Look and Implementation Plan
  Dr. Nizar Mohamed, ADB Consultant
• Agriculture Information Network Service
  Mr. Wensheng Wang, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, PRC
  Mr. Ian Makin, ADB
• Transboundary Animal Disease Control
  Subhash Morzaria, Chief Technical Advisor, FAO
• Prospects for Renewable Energy in Rural GMS: Regional Strategic Framework for Rural Renewable Energy Development
  Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, ADB Consultant
• Global/Regional Biofuel Modeling (G/RBM) Study: Findings and Recommendations
  Dr. Huangguang Qiu, PRC
• FAO Initiatives on Rural Renewable Energy
  Mr. Andreas VonBrant, FAO
• FAO's Initiatives on Soaring Food Prices and Response to the Rome High-Level Conference Declaration
  Dr. Simmathiri Appanah, National Forestry Programme Advisor, FAO
• GMS Rural Renewable Energy Development Project
  Mr. Mahfuz Ahmed, ADB
• Agriculture Nexus in Accelerating GMS Economic Corridor Development
  Mr. Ronald Antonio Q. Butiong, ADB
• Cross-Border Contract Farming and Market Facilitation for the Poor
  Ms. Sununtar Setboonsarng, ADBI
• Operationalizing the Economic Corridor Development Agenda: A Case of Lao PDR
  Ms. Atsuko Toda, IFAD
• Climate Change and Food Security: Threats and Opportunities
  Mr. Javed Mir, ADB
• Issues and Prospects for Improved Rice Productivity and Food Security in the GMS
  Dr. Sushil Pandey, IRRI
• Proposed New RETA: Accelerating the Implementation of the CASP
  Ms. Marilou Drilon, ADB