Furthering Climate-resilient, Smart and Sustainable Agriculture through Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific

 

11:00 – 12:30 hrs | 25th November 2025
Venue: Hotel Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Background 

The Asia-Pacific region is home to over 4.3 billion people, many of whom depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. The sector, however, is under immense strain due to climate change, resource scarcity, water insecurity, and limited access to finance and technology. Smallholder farmers, the backbone of the region’s food systems, are particularly vulnerable.

Agricultural cooperatives have demonstrated their potential to address these structural challenges by promoting resilience, ecological sustainability, financial inclusion, and access to markets and innovation. With their democratic and values-based model, cooperatives are well positioned to lead the transition to sustainable and climate-resilient agri-food systems.

In this context, the ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Agriculture and Environment (ICAE) and the Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC) are jointly organising this seminar in conjunction with the 17th ICA-AP Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The session aims to foster knowledge-sharing, spotlight regional good practices, and catalyse collaborative solutions to strengthen sustainable agriculture through cooperatives.

Session Objective

The seminar seeks to advance the role of agricultural cooperatives in shaping a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, the session will:

  • Promote smart agriculture, climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, highlighting cooperative-led models that integrate productivity, technology and digitalisation, adaptation, and climate mitigation.
  • Explore pathways for enabling green finance, with a focus on mechanisms that allow cooperatives to access climate-linked, blended, and public financing.
  • Showcase practical innovations in sustainable agriculture, including successful approaches and case studies from Japan and other parts of the region that strengthen food security and rural livelihoods.
  • Deepen understanding of the water-energy-food nexus, and how cooperatives can manage these interconnected resources for long-term ecological balance and community sustainability.
  • Strengthen regional cooperation and partnerships, by fostering collaboration between ICAE, NEDAC, member organisations, and development partners in pursuit of rural transformation and cooperative led solutions.

Thematic Focus Area

The seminar will be anchored around four interlinked thematic areas:

  • Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Cooperative innovations and field-level practices that deliver on productivity while also supporting adaptation and climate mitigation.
  • Green Finance for Cooperatives: Thematic focus on enabling green finance, exploring how climate finance, blended capital, and enabling policy frameworks can support cooperative-led transitions in agriculture.
  • Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Case studies on cooperative approaches to sustainable farming and rural revitalisation, offering lessons that can be adapted across the Asia-Pacific.
  • Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Experiences of cooperatives in managing interconnected resources to build resilience, ensure sustainability, and deliver long-term benefits to members and their communities.

Who are the Participants?

The participants will be members of ICA-AP Committee on Women and Committee on Trade & Business and delegates representing cooperative enterprises and apex federations from different countries in the Asia-Pacific region who will be attending the ICA-AP Regional Assembly.

Tentative Program Schedule

Time

Agenda

Speaker/Facilitator

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11:00 – 11:05

Welcome Remarks

Mr. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, IAS, Chairman, NEDAC and Managing Director, NCDC, & Additional Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India

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11:05 – 11:10

Opening & Setting the Context

Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer, Regional Director, ICA-AP

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11:10 – 11:30

Case study and Presentation: Climate-smart agriculture and sustainable production practice

Mr. Jyoti Saroop, Director, Unati Cooperative cum Marketing Processing Society Ltd, India

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11:30 – 11:45

Thematic Address: “Enabling Green Finance for Cooperatives”

Ms. Anitha Munasinghe, Country Manager, Solidaridad Network, Sri Lanka

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11:45 – 12:05

Case Study and Presentation: Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Japan and experiences from the ICA-MAFF (Japan) Training Course

Mr. Hirofumi Kobayashi, Executive Director, Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia (IDACA), Japan 

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12:05 – 12:25

Moderated Q&A and Audience Reflections

Facilitated by ICA-AP 

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12:25 – 12:30

Closing Remarks

Dr. Chandrapal Singh Yadav, President, ICA-AP

Expected Outcomes

  • Knowledge Exchange: Regional best practices in Climate Smart Agriculture, Green financing, and resource management disseminated.
  • Action Framework: Identification of opportunities for knowledge exchanges among agricultural cooperatives and other cooperatives in the region, future ICAE–NEDAC collaboration etc.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Strengthened partnerships across cooperatives, Governments, researchers, and global networks.
  • Policy Input: Concrete recommendations feeding into ICA-AP’s and NEDAC’s strategic and advocacy agendas in the areas of agriculture production and food security, and towards member strategies for promoting sustainable agriculture in the region.

Relevance to IYC 2025 and CoopsDay 2025

This seminar is a key contribution to the celebrations of the 2025 United Nations International Year of Cooperatives (IYC2025), themed “Cooperatives Build a Better World”, and the International Day of Cooperatives 2025, themed “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World.”

As part of this momentous occasion of IYC2025, the session showcases how agricultural cooperatives—through Climate Smart Agriculture, green finance, and the water-energy-food nexus—deliver scalable, people-centred, and climate-resilient solutions. The event directly contributes to the global cooperative movement’s efforts to:

  • Highlight cooperative action toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
  • Promote inclusive rural development and climate action;
  • Inspire broader public awareness and partnerships in line with IYC2025 and CoopsDay messaging;
  • Mobilize youth, women, and marginalised communities around cooperative solutions.

This engagement aligns particularly with SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work), 13 (Climate Action), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Target Audience

The seminar is open for all members of ICA Asia and Pacific and NEDAC, and also participants of the 17th ICA AP Regional Assembly & Coop Forum at Colombo, Sri Lanka agricultural cooperative leaders, government agencies, researchers, development partners, and international organisations. It also aims to engage youth and women leaders advancing sustainability in agriculture.

Organisers

ICA Asia and Pacific Committee on Agriculture and Environment (ICAE)

Established in November 2023, ICAE is the result of the merger of ICA-AP’s Committees on Agriculture and Forestry. It currently includes 51 member organisations from 14 countries (as of May 2025), and works to strengthen cooperative action for sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and environmental stewardship in the region. More information is available here on the ICA AP Website.

Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC)

Formed in 1991 with support from FAO, ICA, and ILO, NEDAC connects 30 apex cooperative organizations across 12 countries, representing over 3 million cooperatives and 150 million rural households. NEDAC promotes cooperative leadership in policy advocacy and rural development across Asia-Pacific. More information is available here on the NEDAC Website.

Contact 

For any queries or information regarding the seminar please contact:

Mr. Balasubramanian Iyer
Regional Director, ICA-AP
Email: balu.iyer@icaap.coop