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.
Overall Moderator: Sunae Kim, Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, ADB
Welcome Message
Fatima Yasmin, Vice-President (Sectors and Themes), ADB
Panel Discussion 1: Country Perspectives
Facilitator
Sunae Kim, Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, ADB
- Hon. Mariano Assanami Sabino Lopes, Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister for Rural Development and Community Housing of Timor Leste
- Jaykumar Rawal, Minister for Marketing and Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, India
- Yoichi Watanabe, Vice Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan
Panel Discussion 2: Development Pathways
Facilitator
Shenggen Fan, Chair Professor, China Agricultural University; Dean, Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy (AGFEP) and former Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
- Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President, Department for Country Operations, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Máximo Torero Cullen, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
- Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
- Yvonne Pinto, Director General, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
- Floor Overbeeke, Director of Regenerative Schools Meals, Rockefeller Foundation
Closing Remarks
Isabel Chatterton, Director General, Private Sector Operations Department, ADB
