Full Agenda

To showcase the Philippines strategy to support and promote sustainable and inclusive agrifood investments towards food system transformation. Target audience includes the international and national private stakeholders/companies, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, and banks.

Ceremony for collaboration between Government of the Philippines, through the Department of Agriculture, FAO, and ADB for the 2026 National Investment Forum

Brief Introduction on the National Investment Forum (NIF)

The Marketplace features the latest research, innovations, and products that can support the next phase of ADB’s Food Systems Transformation agenda.  

Introduction and Welcome by Host / Moderator 
Navin K. Twarakavi, Senior Sector Planning Specialist, ADB

Welcome Remarks 
Isabel Chatterton, Director General, PSOD, ADB

Opening Remarks 
Winfried F. Wicklein, Director General, SD2, ADB

The roundtable discussion aims to bring together key development partners for an open and collaborative dialogue focused on sharing insights, aligning priorities, and exploring opportunities for stronger partnerships. Through guided discussions, the roundtable encourages knowledge exchange, addresses common challenges, and identifies actionable strategies to enhance coordination and impact across ongoing and future initiatives. 

Emcee: Tushna Dora, Senior Investment Specialist, AIT-PSOD, ADB

This session aims to support ADB’s shift from crisis response to long‑term food systems transformation under the $40 billion agenda by identifying country readiness gaps, prioritizing actions to strengthen policy and institutional capacity, advancing programmatic and policy‑based approaches, aligning public and private partners, scaling nature‑positive and nutrition‑sensitive investments, enhancing SME financing, and accelerating country engagement and pipeline development.

Opening and Keynote Speech
Masato Kanda, President, ADB

This session aims to strengthen science‑to‑policy pathways by integrating research on rice, livestock, aquatic systems, and One Health into ADB’s programming and project design, identifying opportunities for joint flagship initiatives under ADB’s $40 billion food systems agenda and establishing practical mechanisms for long‑term coordination—including joint working groups and shared data platforms—and aligning partners around a unified, science‑based vision for transforming food systems toward nutrition, climate resilience, and nature‑positive outcomes across Asia and the Pacific.

Ceremony for collaboration between Government of the Philippines, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), FAO, and ADB for the 2026 National Investment Forum launching

Brief Introduction on the National Investment Forum (NIF)
Eric Quincieu, Principal Water Resources Specialist, Agriculture, Food, Nature and Rural Development Sector Office, Sectors Department 2, ADB

Keynote Message

This session will present ASEAN’s strategy for transforming food systems and guide support from ADB and development partners. It will highlight evidence, country experiences, and investment pathways that turn regional commitments into scalable action. The discussion will focus on aligning priorities, mobilizing finance, and strengthening cross‑sector collaboration for resilient and nutrition‑sensitive agrifood systems.

Welcome remarks
Winfried Wicklein, Director General, Sectors Department 2, ADB

This session aims to discuss establishing river basin systems as foundations for food security, climate resilience, natural capital, and economic stability by framing scientific risks and value creation opportunities across integrated basin systems; clarifying macroeconomic stakes; exploring governance and cooperation on energy, water infrastructure, and basin management; identifying financing and resilience pathways; developing a shared mission-oriented vision for Asia’s Resilient River Basins; and defining the roles of ADB, international financing institutions, regional bodies, and knowle

This session discusses how science‑based solutions, paired with policy reforms, public investment, blended finance, and other de-risking tools, can strengthen climate‑resilient agri‑food investments and crowd in private capital through coordinated public–private action. It will also introduce the ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse Facility as an operational platform that converts scientific and technical innovations into investment-ready inputs for sovereign and non‑sovereign projects.

Opening Remarks
Maximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO

This ADB–JMAFF Joint Session will highlight fair nutrition as a cross‑cutting agricultural priority by showcasing Japan’s innovative food‑related companies and demonstrating how integrated approaches, partnerships, and coordinated support can scale nutrition solutions into sustainable agrifood businesses across Asia and the Pacific.

Opening Remark: 
Yoichi Watanabe, Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of Japan

This session provides a platform for public and private sector colleagues to virtually showcase their latest research, innovations, and products that can support the next phase of ADB’s Food Systems Transformation agenda. 

Introduction and Welcome
Navin K. Twarakavi, Senior Sector Planning Specialist, ADB

Presentations

The session brings together ASEAN youth leaders to advance sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems that promote food security and healthier diets across the region by providing a safe, participatory space to share insights, co‑create an ASEAN Youth Pledge, spotlight youth‑led initiatives in agriculture, nutrition, and climate action, and strengthen cross‑border networks to inspire sustained youth leadership, advocacy, and collective action beyond consultation.

Moderators:

The session will showcase best practices and lessons from ADB’s Yangtze and Yellow River basin programs, demonstrating how natural capital approaches can drive the transformation of food systems. It will also provide a platform for sharing perspectives, discussing key challenges and opportunities, and identifying avenues for replication and knowledge exchange across the region.

Welcome
Ehsan Khan, Director General, East Asia Department, ADB

(update soon)

The session will showcase Indonesia’s achievement of its food self-sufficiency and provide a platform to exchange knowledge and ideas on policies, programs, implementation models, innovations and that can sustain the achievement and further accelerate Indonesia’s food systems transformation.

Opening

Presentations

Presentations

• Kazuhiro Gono, NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS
• Sara Roversi, President, Future Food Institute
• Christian Fischer, YieldXperts & Onewater
• Mary Grace Gasco, Founder and CEO, SpaceCrop Technologies, Ltd.

To showcase Philippine biodiversity and culinary heritage through modern, nutrition‑forward and sustainable interpretations that elevate indigenous and underutilized ingredients, promote inclusive and resilient local value chains, and demonstrate the vital role of gastronomy in advancing nutrition‑sensitive food systems rooted in whole foods, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and low‑waste practices.

Chefs Showcase

(Track 1: Landscape Approaches for Resilient River Basins)

The purpose of this session is to present and discuss the planned analytical framework and explore how long-term modelling of water balance, crop production, and climate risks can inform basin planning, investment roadmaps, and financing strategies. By linking hydrological signals to economic consequences and policy choices, RRBI aims to support earlier, better-informed decisions that translate risk awareness into structured, finance-ready pathways for resilient river basin management.

(Track 2: Natural Capital Dialogues)

This session introduces ADB’s Natural Capital Guidance Note and practical tools for integrating natural capital into development planning and operations. It also highlights innovative financing solutions and partnerships to scale nature‑positive investments across the region. 

Opening Session: Setting the Stage 
Moderator: Nathan Rive, Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, AFNR, SD2, ADB

(Track 3: Promoting Nutrition and Healthy Diets)

The session will introduce the Agrifood Systems Accelerator, outlining its operational model and demonstrating how national agrifood priorities can be translated into bankable actions through country examples and investment pathways. It will also highlight opportunities for DFI alignment and private‑sector engagement across Asia–Pacific while identifying next steps for Accelerator engagement and pipeline development for 2026–2027.

(Track 4: Country Deep-Dive (Philippines and India) and Plant Health Showcase) 

(Deep Dive Sessions and Meet with Experts)

This hybrid event will explore strategies to address the climate–food–nature nexus, drawing on Bhutan’s leadership in sustainable development and its commitment to remaining carbon-negative. The forum will feature a keynote presentation, open discussions, and bilateral engagements aimed at accelerating solutions for climate resilience, food security, and nature conservation across Asia and the Pacific.

(Track 1: Landscape Approaches for Resilient River Basins)

(Deep Dive Sessions and Meet with Experts)

The session aims to identify complementarities and practical coordination mechanisms between FFMS and AgriConnect; and discuss how integrated logistics, policy actions and digital systems can enhance climate resilience and food market efficiency.

(Track 2: Natural Capital Dialogues)

This session introduces ADB’s Natural Capital Guidance Note and practical tools for integrating natural capital into development planning and operations. It also highlights innovative financing solutions and partnerships to scale nature‑positive investments across the region. 

Session 2: Enabling Environment for Natural Capital
Moderator: Au Shion Yee, Principal Water Resources Specialist, AFNR, SD2, ADB

(Track 3: Promoting Nutrition and Healthy Diets)

The session aims to position planet‑friendly school meals as a strategic food‑systems transformation investment platform by identifying structural barriers to scaling and proposing policy, market, and financing solutions. It also aims to demonstrate how regenerative agriculture and local procurement deliver nutrition, climate, and biodiversity co‑benefits while clarifying entry points for ADB engagement through policy dialogue, sovereign lending, trust funds, and blended finance. 

(Track 1: Landscape Approaches for Resilient River Basins)

This session will establish regional foundations for resilient river basins by defining key diagnostic needs, project preparation pathways, and priority assistance across the SEARRI pillars. It will also outline shared principles for long‑term basin sustainability and gather country‑specific examples to guide future SEARRI support and ASEAN engagement.

Opening

Keynote: What is happening with ASEAN river basins?

(Track 3: Promoting Nutrition and Healthy Diets) 

The session aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of how agriculture and food systems shape diet quality and to show how supportive food environments can encourage healthier eating. It will also offer simple strategies for improving daily food choices and inspire small, achievable nutrition‑related behavior changes.

Overall moderator:
Nizelle Sy-Constiniano, Senior Board Assistant, ADB-BOD

(Track 4: Country Deep-Dive (Philippines and India) and Plant Health Showcase)

This session aims to accelerate investment mobilization for India’s sustainable and inclusive growth by, strengthening public-private alignment and increasing private co-financing. Specifically, the session will generate actionable takeaways across three strategic pillars: Efficient Water Resources Management, Value Addition and Marketing for Agriculture, and Natural Capital Protection and Management.

This session highlights how private sector actors across the agrifood value chain—from seed production to retail—drive more efficient, sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and nutritious food systems. It will discuss how ADB supports agribusinesses by amplifying the perspectives of its private sector agribusiness clients and partners. 

The session highlights different financing instruments and delivery models, including grants, concessional finance, blended approaches, and private sector engagement. By drawing on country and operational perspectives, the discussion emphasizes lessons learned, implementation challenges, and pathways for scaling climate-resilient food system investments. 

(Deep Dive Sessions and Meet with Experts)

This session convenes stakeholders from the Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program to review achievements, distill lessons learned, and chart next steps for advancing regenerative food systems across ASEAN. It will highlight results and scaling insights from innovation interventions, explore alignment with the ADB–CGIAR Clearinghouse, and identify opportunities for regional collaboration and ADB engagement to expand impact beyond 2026. 

(Track 2: Natural Capital Dialogues)

This session introduces ADB’s Natural Capital Guidance Note and practical tools for integrating natural capital into development planning and operations. It also highlights innovative financing solutions and partnerships to scale nature‑positive investments across the region. 

Session 3: Partnerships, Knowledge Sharing & Capacity Building
Moderator: Nathan Rive, Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, AFNR, SD2, ADB

This session brings together stakeholders from Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, including members of the FST-Partnership, regional initiatives, and international networks, to review progress, reflect on lessons learned, and explore opportunities for collaboration to accelerate food systems transformation at national and sub-national levels. 

The session explores governance arrangements, incentives for collaboration, and the role of regional knowledge platforms and data-sharing mechanisms. By highlighting both national and regional cooperation, it positions G2F as not only a set of investments, but as a long-term system for adaptive learning, coordination, and resilience building. 

(Track 1: Landscape Approaches for Resilient River Basins)

This session aims to bring together DMC officials and development partners to identify what works, where constraints remain, and how ridge‑to‑reef approaches can unlock investment‑ready pipelines. It will focus on three investment domains—climate‑resilient landscapes, competitive food systems, and inclusive jobs—alongside the enabling conditions needed for scale.

Welcome
Fatima Yasmin, Vice-President (Sectors and Themes), ADB

(Track 2: Natural Capital Dialogues)

This session introduces ADB’s Natural Capital Guidance Note and practical tools for integrating natural capital into development planning and operations. It also highlights innovative financing solutions and partnerships to scale nature‑positive investments across the region. 

Session 4: Innovative Financing & Investment Mobilization
Moderator: Martin Lemoine, Advisor, PSOD, ADB

(Track 3: Promoting Nutrition and Healthy Diets) 

(Track 4: Country Deep-Dive (Philippines and India) and Plant Health Showcase)

PS 5.1 From Evidence to Investment. Signature event of the Cooperation Agreement with Aim4Scale

The session aims to showcase ADB’s commitment to scaling innovation. The event will promote scalable solutions in livestock and agri-food systems. The session targets DMC policymakers and implementing agencies, innovation providers and researchers will engage on scale pathways.

PS 5.2 Operational Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive, Farmer-Centric Service Delivery

PS 6.1 From Innovation To Impact: Scaling Regenerative Agriculture

This session convenes stakeholders from the Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Program to review achievements, reflect on lessons learned, and outline next steps for advancing regenerative food systems across ASEAN, with a focus on scaling regenerative agriculture and enabling the markets, institutions, and partnerships that support it.

PS 6.2 Frontier Technologies in Sustainable Crop Diversification and Nutrition-Sensitive Value Chains

PS 7.1 Investing in Tomorrow: Pitching the Next Big Ideas for the Food Systems Transformation in the Pacific

(update soon)

PS 7.2 Investing in the Private Sector for Nutrition - Nutrition Finance Facility

PS 8.1 Risk, Resilience, and Institutional Readiness for Food Security: The ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Experience

This training will equip participants with an understanding of how natural capital approaches reveal the links between ecosystems, human well-being, and economic development, and how these methods can integrate nature’s value into policy and finance decisions. The session also introduces the process of conducting natural capital assessments, showcases real-world applications in the Asia-Pacific, and highlights how such evidence can inform development planning and investment across institutional decision cycles. 

This session aims to present ADB’s programmatic support for transforming India’s rice sector—through investments in irrigation, mechanization, digital technologies, and policy reform—under a planned $1.5 billion program for 2026–2030. It also aims to highlight priority public investments in landscape restoration, climate‑resilient water infrastructure, and value‑chain modernization, while showcasing financing models that can accelerate food‑system transformation and attract private co‑investment.

PS 5.3 AI and frontier digital innovation in ADB agricultural investments.

The session aims to showcase real-world ADB supported applications of AI and digital innovation in agriculture, illustrate pathways for scaling frontier technologies through public investment, and foster cross sector learning among countries. It targets ADB operations staff, government policymakers, development partners, agri tech practitioners, climate and food systems experts, and private sector innovators interested in scalable digital solutions.

PS 6.3 Inclusive Aquaculture and Livestock Value Chains

This session examines how fisheries, aquaculture and livestock-based food systems can be supported through packaged sovereign and non-sovereign approaches, and how scientific innovation, policy reform, public investment, and private finance can be better aligned within ADB-supported operations. It highlights practical pathways to translate innovation into bankable, inclusive, and scalable investments that benefit DMCs, including smallholders, women, and coastal and rural communities.

PS 7.3 The Pacific Puzzle: Co-creating the Future of Food, Nature, and Climate [Roundtable discussion]. (by invitation only)

(update soon)

This session aims to present ADB’s new regional initiative on accelerating sustainable and resilient rice sector transformation, highlighting how climate smart technologies, digital tools, and carbon credit approaches can deliver economic incentives for farmers, promote low carbon practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), and support countries’ NDC targets. It also aims to showcase technology driven models and the institutional and private sector partnerships needed to scale sustainable, low carbon rice farming across Asia.

(update soon)

This session will explore how these evolving approaches can help future-proof coffee value chains. It will highlight practical experiences from producers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who are integrating resilience, value addition, and market innovation into their business models. By examining both challenges and emerging solutions, the discussion aims to identify pathways that strengthen farmer livelihoods while ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness for the global coffee sector.

Opening