.png)
The role of LICA in agroecology transitions
The Lao facilitated Initiative on Agroecology (LICA) was established to support agroecology transitions in ASEAN. It responds to requests made to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic during SOM-AMAF Meetings: first in 2012, for a regional initiative on conservation agriculture to promote as an “eco-friendly and climate-resilient agriculture intensification in the ASEAN region”, and then in 2017 with the objective of “sharing, comparing and, as much as possible, homogenizing national regulations on agroecology, in order to progressively develop a Common Position of ASEAN.”
Member countries were requested to nominate LICA focal points as agreed at the 41st SOM-AMAF meeting in 2019. As a result of discussions among the LICA focal points, three objectives were established for LICA, including the design of this document of ASEAN guidelines for supporting agroecological transitions, as detailed below:
Sharing success and learning experiences of ASEAN countries on policies and institutional mechanisms that efficiently support agroecological transition.
Facilitating an inter-countries analysis of these experiences, through partnerships with ASEAN Sub-Working Group on Crops (ASWGC) SPA 2021-2025.
Facilitating the design of ASEAN guidelines for policies supporting agroecological transition.
The 42nd SOM-AMAF meeting requested the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to work with the ASEAN Secretariat, LICA and relevant sectoral working groups, on implementing various proposals, including establishing LICA as a reference group on agroecology for ASEAN.
As a reference group on agroecology, LICA will have the following additional roles within ASEAN:
Link the discussions in ASEAN on agroecology with global discussions, in particular with the Agroecology Coalition.
Increase the coherence of policy and activity on sustainable agriculture, beyond the ASWGC.
Increase communication and sharing on agroecology advances in ASEAN member states.
Timeline of the Lao facilitated Initiative on Agroecology (LICA)
LICA initiative endorsed in the 34th AMAF meeting (Vientiane)
Special 38th SOM AMAF expanded from Conservation Ag to agroecology to share, compare and homogenize national regulations on AE, in order to progressively develop a Common Position of ASEAN
ASWGC notes the preparation of a proposal for ASEAN guidelines for policy mechanisms that support agroecological transition. 43rd S-SOM AMAF welcomes the proposed strengthening of LICA as a reference group for ASEAN
2012
2013
2015
2016
2017
2021
2022
2023
36th S-SOM AMAF supported Lao PDR’s continuation of the initiative and urged participation. 1st LICA meeting (Vientiane). Attended by Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Singapore.
41st SOM AMAF meeting. Member countries are requested to nominate LICA focal points, and to update LICA road map
ASWGC noted the LICA workplan for 2023-2024 focusing on the innovation research process to develop the structure and outline content for the policy guidelines on agroecology transition, with formal submission to ASWGC and subject to clearance, to SOM-AMAF and AMAF