On 25 November 2025, the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) attended 2025 International Workshop on Transitioning Towards Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture (TARASA25) organized in Vientiane. The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Lao facilitated Initiative on Agroecology for ASEAN, in collaboration with other partners.

Dr. Yutong Li, Head of ESCAP-CSAM, delivered a presentation at the workshop, highlighting CSAM’s efforts to promote sustainable agricultural mechanization in the Asia-Pacific region. She shared CSAM’s engagements and practical experiences in advancing the application and scaling-up of sustainable agricultural practices, including the circular utilization of straw residue, conservation agriculture, climate smart straw management. These efforts have been implemented through its regional initiatives, particularly its flagship Integrated Straw Management Project, which has been carried out over the past years across multiple countries in the region, including Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Dr. Li emphasized the role of mechanization-based interventions in conserving soil, improving soil health, strengthening ecosystems, and advancing regenerative agriculture through adaptable and scalable solutions. She also underscored the critical importance of emerging energy-efficient equipment, precision farming technologies, and AI-driven data applications in agricultural mechanization for accelerating the transition from conventional practices to regenerative and climate-smart approaches.

TARASA is a recurring international workshop on agroecology and regenerative agriculture, bringing together governments, researchers, NGOs, civil society organizations, farmers, and other stakeholders to discuss, share and plan how to shift agriculture toward sustainable, agroecological, and regenerative practices. CSAM’s contribution to TARASA25 reaffirmed its commitment to promoting innovation, expanding regional collaboration, and supporting the adoption of climate-smart mechanization solutions to drive resilient agrifood system transformation, safeguard food security and contribute to the acceleration on Sustainable Development Goals across the region.