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
Opening Session: Transforming Food Systems to align with climate goals and strengthen food security
Moderator: Jiangfeng Zhang, Director, SD2-AFNR, ADB
Welcome Remarks
Winfried Wicklein, Director General, SD2, ADB
Overview of ADB’s Food System Transformation Approach
Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director, AFNR Sector Office, SD2, ADB
Session 1: Partner Roundtable: Aligning Priorities
Moderator: Lance Gore, OIC-Director, SD2-AFNR, ADB
All participating institutions
Topic: “What 2–3 big shifts are you prioritizing in food systems in Asia and the Pacific over the next 3–5 years, and where do you see natural alignment with ADB?”
Speakers
- Shantanu Mitra, Alternate Executive Director, ADB
- Samuel Dzotefe, Senior Manager, Manufacturing, Agribusiness & Services, Asia & the Pacific, IFC, World Bank Group
- Donal Brown, Associate Vice President, IFAD
- Qu Dongyu, Director General, FAO
- Michael Kremer, University Professor in Economics, Director of Development Innovation Lab and Faculty Director, Development Economics Center, University of Chicago
- Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, GAIN
- Ruben G. Echeverria, Senior Advisor, Agricultural Development
- Floor Overbeeke, Director, Regenerative Agriculture, Rockefeller Foundation
- Shenggen Fan, Chair Professor and Dean, China Agricultural University
- Yvonne Pinto, Director General, IRRI
- Anne Guerry, Co-Executive Director, Natural Capital Alliance, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment
- Manoj Kumar, Regional Director Asia, Nutrition International
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Session 2: Thematic Collaboration Breakouts
Moderators:
Group 1: Nature-Positive & Climate-Resilient Food Systems (landscape approaches, regenerative agriculture, natural capital finance, etc.)
- Sanath Ranawana, Director, SD2-AFNR, ADB
- Nathan Rive, Principal Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, SD2-AFNR, ADB
Group 2: Food Security, Nutrition & Social Inclusion (healthy diets, school meals, maternal/child nutrition, etc.)
- Takeshi Ueda, Director, SD2-AFNR, ADB
- Tomoko Kato, Senior Food and Nutrition Specialist, SD2-AFNR, ADB
Group 3: Digital technology and other innovations (Digital agriculture, AI-driven extension, weather intelligence, agrifintech, blended finance, farmer financing)
- Jiangfeng Zhang, Director, SD2-AFNR, ADB
- Monica Petri, Senior Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist, SD2-AFNR, ADB
Session 3: Reporting from Breakouts and synthesis
Moderator: Jiangfeng Zhang, Director, SD2-AFNR, ADB
- minute summary by each group (3 concrete collaboration opportunities,1 quick-start action (within 12 months), roles for ADB + partners)
- Synthesis
Closing Remarks
Yevgeniy Zhukov, Director General, CCSD, ADB
Group Photo
