Beyond Techno-Fixes: Rethinking Climate, Trade and the Future of Food

About this event

Climate change is changing the way food is grown, traded, and consumed across Asia. At the same time, new technologies, expanding trade, and growing investment are reshaping agriculture—creating exciting opportunities, but also new risks and inequalities. Co-organized by Foodthink and Mekong Institute, this three-hour interactive dialogue brings together farmers, researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, technology innovators, and private-sector representatives from China and Southeast Asia to ask a simple but important question: Can the green transition make our food systems more resilient without leaving farmers and communities behind? The first part of the conversation will look at the promises—and limits—of new technology in agriculture. From AI and digital platforms to precision farming and other emerging innovations, what can genuinely help farmers adapt to climate change? What technologies are actually reducing environmental impacts, and which may simply create new forms of dependency or inequality? Most importantly, who gets to access and benefit from these innovations? The second part will turn to the rapidly growing agricultural trade and investment links between China and ASEAN. China's demand for products such as durian is transforming farming and supply chains across the region. But what does this mean for climate resilience, biodiversity, rural livelihoods, and the future of smallholder agriculture? Can growing regional trade become part of the solution rather than deepen existing environmental pressures? Featuring perspectives and experiences from China, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and other parts of Southeast Asia, the event is designed as an open and interactive regional conversation—not a showcase of ready-made solutions. Speakers and participants will share what is working, what is not, and what we can learn from each other's experiences. Join us for a candid discussion about the future of food in a changing climate—and about how technology, trade, and regional cooperation can help build food systems that are not only more resilient, but also fairer for the people who produce our food.