Vietnam: Regional workshop on Food consumption, urbanisation and rural transformations

Hanoi, October 1-2, 2015, MALICA (Markets and Agriculture Linkages for Cities in Asia), in collaboration with IIED (International Institute for Environment and Development), VAAS (Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences), successfully organized, with IFAD support (International Fund for Agricultural Development) the regional workshop on Food consumption, urbanization and rural transformations.

The workshop was held on two days with presentations, discussions in working groups and a field visit to retail markets in Hanoi.

At the workshop, representatives of Vietnamese, regional and international research organizations, grassroots support organizations, IGOs, and policy makers discussed, shared knowledge and experience regarding the current trends and policies in food consumption, urbanization and rural transformations in Vietnam and East/South-East Asia, more specifically the rapid changes in food consumption in Vietnam and the region; new trends in rural transformations; evolvement of the informal/semi-formal market; identified new research priorities and new policy agenda in strengthening the urban-rural linkage, promoting the role of small-scale producers, and ensuring food security as well as food safety especially to low-income groups.