IFPRI is pleased to participate in the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026, which will be held in Manila, Philippines, from March 16–19, 2026. The hybrid Forum aims to advance the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) $40 billion Food Systems Transformation commitment and bring together government leaders, global experts, development partners, private sector innovators, and civil society to shape a resilient and sustainable food future for the region.
With the theme “Feeding the Future, Sustaining the Planet,” the Forum will address the urgent need to transform agri-food systems amid escalating climate risks, water stress, biodiversity loss, and rising food insecurity.
March 16, 2026
SE 1.3 Development Partners Roundtable (by invitation only) | 02:00 pm – 05:30 pm (Asia/Manila)
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
March 17, 2026
PL 1.2 Leaders Session 2: Partners and Thought Leaders | 10:30 am – 12:30 pm (Asia/Manila)
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
SE 3.2 Transforming food systems through investing in natural capital approaches: Experiences from the PRC | 04:00 pm – 05:30 pm (Asia/Manila)
- Kevin Chen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
SE 4.2 Public-Private Co-operation and Innovation Finance for Agri-Food Systems Transformation | 04:00 pm – 05:30 pm (Asia/Manila)
- Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
March 18, 2026
Session 3.2 Planet-Friendly School Meals: A Science-to-Investment Platform for Healthy Diets and Climate Resilience | 11:20 am –12:40pm (Asia/Manila)
- Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI
March 19, 2026
PS 8.2: Sustainable Rice Value Chains: Key pathway to low-carbon agriculture in Asia | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (Asia/Manila)
- Kevin Chen, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Session 5.4. Strengthening Food Systems Decision-Making-Digital Tools and Data for Nutrition Investment | 4:00pm – 5:30pm (Asia/Manila)
- Purnima Menon, Senior Director, Food and Nutrition Policy; Acting Senior Director, Transformation Strategy, IFPRI