Agriculture is crucial in the development of Southeast Asian countries as this sector remains a major source of income for rural people. Hunger and malnutrition are higher in rural areas, while increasing opportunities to generate income from the sector can reduce poverty and improve the food security of a nation. The pressure on the agricultural sector is magnified if we consider the future projections of population growth, environmental stresses, production-related constraints, and climate change.

Improving the agricultural sector requires the enhancement of the innovation system to produce changes in the processes, policies, and vision among agricultural stakeholders that enables the creation of transformative and innovative programs and products. COVID-19 brought renewed challenges in agricultural production research, extension and education. ICT has become increasingly responsive to the changing future of agriculture as the need for a safe and nutritious food supply has become a major concern. The breakdown in the food supply chain sped up the adoption of ICT-based applications in farmer education and food delivery systems, as well as reinvigorated the interest of venture capitalists to invest in agriculture.

Recent developments show that markets influence innovation systems, but the government can facilitate improvements through strategic collaborations with the different stakeholders in the supply chain. This program aims to engage the participants in analyzing the challenges facing agriculture and in developing collaborative and transformative programs for agricultural development. In doing so, participants will be able to propose innovative programs that may positively impact their agricultural innovation systems.