GHAN International Workshop at Seoul National University
On September 25, 2025, the GHAN International Workshop was held at the Faculty Club of Seoul National University. GHAN is a global high-tech agriculture network platform that was proposed and established in Korea in 2019 by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The platform aims to train young people and professionals from developing countries in advanced agricultural technologies and entrepreneurial skills to foster agropreneurs who will lead agricultural innovation in their home countries. GHAN also seeks to build a collaborative system for global agricultural education.
The GHAN Workshop serves as a platform to establish education and research collaboration for nurturing global talent in agriculture and strengthening agri-industrial capacity in developing countries. Participants included representatives from major Asian agricultural universities and international organizations, who discussed ways to expand agricultural education, technology exchange, and partnerships. As GHAN was established in Korea, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Seoul National University has served as GHAN’s global hub to date.
The first session of the workshop featured Professor Sung Sup Na from Stanford University and Visiting Scholar Chang-Gil Kim from the SNU Asia Center. The second session began with Director Youngjun Park, followed by Ryotaro Hayashi, Senior Manager at ADB, Professor Tae-Joon Cho in Human Resource Development, presentations of country-specific action plans by participating country representatives, speeches by faculty members of SNU CALS, and a concluding panel discussion. In particular, the second session included detailed introductions to CALS by Director Park, ADB by Ryotaro Hayashi, country action plans from representatives of the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, as well as presentations on future flagship GHAN projects.
Development of Agricultural and Life Sciences Universities in the Asia-Pacific Region with ADB
The second session began with an introduction to ADB, covering current projects supported by ADB and how agricultural and life sciences universities across the Asia-Pacific region are being developed.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was established to support social and economic development in Asia and the Pacific. Its major areas of work include financial assistance, development programs, regional integration, and knowledge sharing. Korea is a member country of ADB and a partner in development cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and has been collaborating with GHAN to date.
ADB–GHAN Collaborative Support Projects
Among the collaborative projects introduced between GHAN and ADB, two are currently underway in Pakistan and Vietnam. In Pakistan, the University of Agriculture Faisalabad is implementing the Punjab Climate Resilient and Low-Carbon Agricultural Mechanization Project. This is a government-supported project receiving technical assistance from ADB and is expected to be approved by the end of this year or early next year.
In Vietnam, a project led by the Vice President of Can Tho University is being carried out in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The core objective is to improve the quality of education and strengthen the academic capacity of faculty members. To achieve this, six departments from SNU CALS are expected to participate, with the goal of supporting faculty members at Can Tho University through doctoral-level training.
Action Plans of Agricultural and Life Sciences Universities in the Asia-Pacific Region
The workshop also featured presentations on action plans for the development of agricultural and life sciences universities in the Asia-Pacific region. Participating universities included the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).
UPLB expressed its plans to complete a new research center and emphasized its ongoing research partnership with Nagoya University. BAU focused on expanding research across all agricultural fields and strengthening practical application programs, and plans to implement a six-month internship program for students with the support of partner institutions. Finally, UAF is jointly 추진 중인 the HyperGreenTech project with the University of Sydney, focusing on high-tech agriculture. The project is currently in its second phase, involving the transfer of inventions developed in Pakistan to Ethiopia, followed by further development upon their return to Pakistan. UAF is also placing strong emphasis on advanced agricultural collaboration projects related to robotics.
GHAN Project: Professor Jongwook Lee’s Presentation on International Development Cooperation and Impact Evaluation
Lastly, as part of GHAN’s flagship projects, Professor Jongwook Lee of Agricultural and Resource Economics delivered a presentation on his research in international development cooperation and impact evaluation. Based on the principle of “evaluating which opportunities are most effective,” Professor Lee introduced four key pillars of his research. First, experimentally validating optimization methods rather than relying on assumptions. Second, supporting transparency. Third, building and contributing to the understanding necessary to become a global leader in agriculture. Fourth, laying the foundation for future generations.
Major projects he has conducted include the R.I.S.E Vietnam project to improve public health and education, a gender equality awareness project carried out under the Australian program, and the Mekong River Basin project conducted in collaboration with KOICA. He also introduced his ongoing project on inclusive income growth in Malawi.”
