Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP)NewsMekong Forum 2026: SRP Joins the Region’s Flagship Dialogue on Nexus Solutions

July 27, 2026

Mekong Forum 2026: SRP Joins the Region’s Flagship Dialogue on Nexus Solutions

22–23 July 2026 | 10th Floor, Grand Hall, Grande Centre Point Lumphini, Bangkok, Thailand

On 22–23 July 2026, the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) joined Mekong Forum 2026 in Bangkok, the flagship regional gathering organised by the Mekong Institute (MI) under the theme “People, Partnership, Progress: Powering GMS Development through Nexus Solutions.” The Forum marked a significant moment for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS): it coincided with MI’s 30th anniversary and the launch of its 2026–2030 Strategic Framework, bringing together roughly 300 participants government officials, UN agencies and development banks, researchers, private sector leaders, and civil society groups to chart a more connected, evidence-driven path for regional development.

Our Representatives:

Chanatporn Limprapoowiwattana, SRP Knowledge and Learning Manager

Kunpreya Maneerat, SRP Partnerships Officer

Why SRP’s Participation Matters

Rice sits at the centre of food security, water use, and livelihoods across the Mekong countries, yet conversations about the region’s future are increasingly happening through a “nexus” lens one that treats climate, water, energy, food, and health as interconnected systems rather than separate silos. By taking part, SRP placed sustainable rice production directly inside that wider regional conversation, alongside institutions like UN ESCAP, the Asian Development Bank, the Mekong River Commission, AIIB, and the GMS Knowledge Network (GMSKN).

SRP’s participation centered on Technical Session 2, “From Knowledge to Nexus Solutions: Driving Innovation and Policy Impact through the GMS Knowledge Network,” which brought together the panelists listed above to examine how regional knowledge ecosystems can better connect research, policy, innovation, and investment across the GMS.

Panelists Technical Session 2

Mr. Boualom Saysanavong — Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR
Ms. Guo Sufan — Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China
Ms. Suriwan Thaiprayoon — Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Mr. Ngoc Thuanle — Institute for Research and Application of Environmental Treatment, Vietnam
Mr. Oudet Souvannavong — Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lao PDR
Mr. Antonio Ressano — GMS Secretariat, Asian Development Bank (note: sources differ slightly on exact title — Concept Note lists “GMS Secretariat”; internal notes list “Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, ADB.” Recommend confirming exact title with the MI team before final publication.)

Inside the discussion

A recurring theme was the gap between the pace of research and the pace of policymaking evidence is often produced only after decisions have already been made, because research timelines rarely keep up with emerging policy needs. Speakers argued that cross-sector partnerships are what close that gap, ensuring evidence gets generated where it’s actually needed rather than after the fact.

A few other points stood out: reliable, nationally-collected data paired with real capacity-building (not just technical studies); pre-evaluation involving multiple stakeholders; and cross-sectoral collaboration with the private sector as one of the more effective ways to move research into policy provided public interest and private-sector incentives are deliberately balanced. A top-down approach to implementation was named as a recurring constraint, one that often misses ground realities for lack of real-world evidence.

Looking ahead

Mekong Forum 2026 offered SRP a valuable window into how the region is rethinking collaboration moving from fragmented, project-based efforts toward integrated, partnership-driven solutions. For SRP, the takeaway is clear: there’s real opportunity to strengthen its role as a knowledge partner in the region, and to bring some of that same energy interactive, cross-sector, and solutions-focused into its own platform going forward.

Key takeaways for SRP

A few themes from the session stood out as directly relevant to SRP’s work going forward:

Demand-driven knowledge

SRP is well placed to keep building knowledge products that respond directly to the needs of members, partners, and value chain actors while deepening collaborative policy work with governments to turn evidence into real support for sustainable rice production.

Translating research into action

Technical findings are most useful when converted into concise, practical formats policy briefs, implementation guidance, communication materials tailored to different audiences, from smallholder farmers to ministries.

Multi-stakeholder dialogue

Lasting policy change depends on continuous engagement across governments, researchers, farmers, the private sector, and civil society not one-off consultations.

Communities of Practice

Strengthening peer learning among SRP members and partners across countries could speed up adoption of sustainable rice practices region-wide.

A seat at the policy table

SRP has real potential to feed credible evidence and on-the-ground experience into national and regional sustainable agriculture policy discussions.

Knowledge as a shared public good

The session reinforced a principle SRP already holds close: knowledge is most valuable when co-created with partners, owned by the people who use it, and built into long-term institutional relationships rather than treated as a by-product of individual projects.

SRP extends its congratulations to the Mekong Institute on the success of Mekong Forum 2026, and on the milestone of its 30th anniversary three decades of building bridges, not just across borders, but across sectors, institutions, and generations of changemakers in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The Forum’s ability to bring together governments, UN agencies, development banks, researchers, and the private sector under one shared agenda is no small feat, and it reflects the kind of trusted convening power the region needs more of.

SRP is grateful to have been part of the conversation, and to the panelists of Technical Session 2 for a discussion that was as candid as it was constructive one that surfaced real gaps between research and policy, and real ideas for closing them. As the Mekong region charts its next chapter under the banner of People, Partnership, and Progress, SRP looks forward to continuing this collaboration: contributing evidence, sharing knowledge, and working alongside MI and its partners to build a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive rice sector for the region.

by Jidapa Noosawas