The French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) hosted a key meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos, on November 18 and 19, bringing together local and French partners to discuss pressing issues surrounding ecosystem sustainability and the One Health approach. The two-day event focused on critical topics such as land use, water resources, and biodiversity, with discussions involving scientists, officials, and donors from both countries.

A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the SMART Observatory (Sustainable Mountain Agroecosystems Research and Training station) in Ban Lak Sip. The observatory, aimed at Southeast Asian professionals and students, will specialize in food safety and water-related health risks. The inauguration ceremony was attended by local authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, the French Ambassador to Laos, and the IRD Representative. French Ambassador Siv-Leng Chhuor emphasized the observatory's role as a symbol of cooperation and shared knowledge, vital for fostering sustainable development in the isolated mountainous areas of northern Laos.

The SMART Observatory continues the work of the M-TROPICS observatory and will contribute to finding environmentally and socially sustainable solutions in the region. The event was also part of IRD’s 80th-anniversary celebrations, which included a cocktail reception featuring photo exhibitions and screenings on health anthropology, waste management, and the health risks faced by waste pickers in Vientiane.

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