The workshop, which took place from September 18 to 19 in Thailand, enabled Myanmar partners (Gaia Green, Bago Centre, Consumer Group) to enhance the link between producers and consumers, focusing on organic agriculture and fair-trade principles.

Key Learnings:

• Defining Organic Agriculture: The workshop clarified the principles of organic agriculture, stressing its holistic approach that includes environmental, social, and economic aspects.
• Challenges of Organic Production: Participants discussed the obstacles organic farmers face, including the effects of climate change, the need for climate-resilient varieties, and addressing the environmental impacts of pesticides.
• Importance of Community-Based Seed Systems: Field visits showcased the significance of community-based seed saving, exchange, and distribution networks, highlighting the role of collective action, knowledge sharing, and community-led seed conservation efforts.
• Building Strong Farmer Movements: The workshop emphasized forming strong farmer movements to advocate for their rights and shape policy decisions.
• Developing Sustainable Business Models: Discussions on various shop models (“Metta Shop,” “Gaia Shop,” and “Elephant Shop”) pointed to the need for sustainable business practices that consider environmental, social, and economic factors.
• Consumer Education: The workshop highlighted the necessity of educating consumers about the advantages of organic food, the importance of supporting local farmers, and how their choices affect the environment and society.

By focusing on these critical areas, the workshop established a solid foundation for the Collective Action Plan: Seeds platform concerning seed production (Metta, Golden Ground, and Gaia), traditional practices, sharing and exchanging through the network and technical support, market coordination, capacity building for young farmers, reviewing the PGS network, raising awareness on social media via the Facebook page and YouTube, addressing consumer issues, and connecting with regional networks or platforms.