Linking Agroecological Transition to Sustainable Food Systems at Territorial Level: Main Challenges in Xiengkhouang Province, Lao PDR

– Food system in Xiengkhouang province relies mainly on subsistence agriculture. Families mainly eat what they grow, and complete their diet with some wild food.
– The rapid shift toward commercial agriculture has improved the livelihood of the population but has also sustainability challenges : lack of dietary diversity, limited nature-based food production, vulnerability of small farmers, increased food safety risks.
– Agroecological initiatives implemented in the province do not fully address these issues.
– Specific research programs have to be developed to propose avenues to better link food system sustainability issues and the projects aiming at supporting the agroecological transition.