9 September 2025, Bangkok, Thailand:
The Agribusiness Management Program of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), in collaboration with UNESCO INRULED, and SEAMEO SEPS, successfully organized the International Workshop and Youth Forum on Education for Sustainable Agribusiness and Rural Development. The full-day event brought together over 100 participants from more than 10 countries, including academics, policymakers, agripreneurs, youth leaders, and development partners. The program advanced concrete pathways to build resilient, inclusive, and climate-ready rural economies across Asia and beyond.
Participants represented a wide network of universities and institutions, including Beijing Normal University, Kasetsart University, Srinakharinwirot University, Mahasarakham University, Yunnan Agricultural University, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT), Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumthani University, and AIT. Institutional partners included UNESCO INRULED, SEAMEO SEPS, Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), GIZ, and China Mobile International, highlighting the workshop’s strong multi-sectoral collaboration.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Pai-Chi Li, President of AIT, emphasized that agribusiness is not merely an industry but a lifeline for communities confronting climate and food security risks, urging deeper collaboration among education, research, and youth-driven innovation. Prof. Zhou Zuoyu, Director of UNESCO INRULED and Vice Chairman of the University Council, Beijing Normal University, highlighted China–Thailand cooperation in agribusiness and education as a platform for accelerating rural transformation in Southeast Asia. Mr. Wang Peng, President of the Chinese Scholar and Student Association in Thailand, spoke about shared responsibility under the UN 2030 Agenda and the vital role of youth. Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, Organizing Chair and Assistant Professor in AIT’s Agribusiness Management Program, explained the workshop’s dual-platform design, pairing expert-led sessions with a youth forum and hackathon to align expert insights with youth-led creativity and move promising ideas toward real-world impact.
The keynotes collectively shared country context, regional practices, and global experiences. Ms. Tapee Vatcharangkool, Director of the Agricultural Policy and Plan Division, OAE, MOAC, Thailand, presented Thailand’s national strategies on climate resilience, post-harvest loss reduction, early-warning systems, and e-commerce; Ms. Abgail Lanceta, representing the Centre Director of SEAMEO SEPS, highlighted regional practices in empowering rural youth through education; and Dr. Qi Xinjian, Assistant Director of UNESCO INRULED, shared global insights on cross-border farmer cooperation as a model for resilience.
Building on the keynotes, Expert Talks expanded themes into actionable insights. Speakers included Dr. Jessadaporn Sthapathayanon (MOAC, Thailand); Dr. Lu Yao (Yunnan Agricultural University); Dr. Chitralada Chaiya (Mahasarakham University); Asst. Prof. Apirapee (Srinakharinwirot University); Ms. Junyu Huo (GIZ); and Dr. Savita Tangwongkit (Kasetsart University). Topics covered cooperative marketing, international talent development, branding, storytelling and marketing for local products, women entrepreneurship empowerment, and digitalization in agribusiness.
The afternoon spotlighted youth creativity. Prof. Manukid Parnichkun, AIT Vice President for Academic and Research, encouraged young innovators to embrace their role as future sustainability leaders. Ms. Kris Chen (China Mobile International) emphasized digital connectivity for rural empowerment, while Mr. Muhammad Kashif Dogar (Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, Government of Punjab, Pakistan) and Ms. Liu Tianyi (UNESCO INRULED) highlighted youth-led agribusiness and gender-inclusive digital skills.
Student teams presented innovative solutions under five tracks: Sustainable Agribusiness Models, Food Security and Resilience, Agri-Tech and Digital Innovation, Rural Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods, and Value Chain Development and Market Access. Winning teams were awarded for creativity, feasibility, and community impact. The Hackathon Judging Panel included Dr. Lalita Siriwattananon (RMUTT), Mr. Muhammad Kashif Dogar, Dr. Supawan Visetnoi (Chulalongkorn University), Dr. Buraskorn Torut (Mahidol University), and Ms. Kris Chen (China Mobile International).
In closing, Prof. Avishek Datta, Head of the Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, AIT, described the workshop as timely and transformative. Dr. Sushil Kumar Himanshu delivered a vote of thanks, acknowledging all partners and participants.
The workshop reaffirmed AIT’s leadership as a regional hub for education, research, and youth-led innovation in sustainable agribusiness and rural development.
