Innovation along the value chain is essential for maximizing the potential of fisheries and aquaculture to enhance food security, drive economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability.  At the processing stage, innovations can help preserve quality while adding value by making products more convenient for consumers, reducing post-harvest losses, or utilizing otherwise discarded by-products.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Zhejiang University (ZJU) recognise the important role youth, startups, innovation and digital technologies play in modernising agriculture and creating employment in the agriculture and rural development sector. As a result, FAO and ZJU collaborating to foster an innovation and entrepreneurship environment for increased use of technologies and adoption of innovation.

This brief presents the background and results of the TAP-AIS project in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, implemented from August 2020 to December 2022. At the country level, the TAP-AIS project worked to strengthen capacities to innovate and the innovation policy environment.