In 2020, the Lower Mekong Initiative was upgraded and expanded to the Mekong-U.S. Partnership (MUSP). The MUSP Track 1.5 Policy Dialogue series is a flagship initiative of the Partnership and includes eleven virtual and in-person dialogues from 2021 to 2025, focusing on key policy and sustainability challenges facing Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This event will launch the summary report to share takeaways and policy recommendations from the 10th Policy Dialogue on Food and Agriculture Trade and Investment, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in June 2025 as a deep-dive on needs and opportunities related to industrial agriculture, SME-scale agriculture, food and agriculture trade policy, animal health development, technology and innovation for agriculture, seed innovation, and sustainable agricultural value chains.
Featured Speakers
David J. Gainer, Director of the Office of Southeast Asia, U.S. Department of State
David J. Gainer is Director of the Office of Southeast Asia. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, David has also served as the Office Director for Southern African Affairs and the Deputy Director of the Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs. He earned Masters degrees in American history, African history, and Liberal Studies from the University of Maryland, University of Cape Town, and Georgetown University, respectively, and holds a BA in history from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He taught secondary school as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi.
Dr. Kanokwan (May) Chodchoey, Group Head for Public and Regulatory Affairs, East West Seeds
May holds a PhD in Biotechnology from Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. She began her career in Monsanto to guide and lead quality then became the Executive Director of the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), the regional seed association, where she had built a strong network with multi-sector stakeholders in the seed supply chain. Her expertise is in seed policy advocacy and capacity building programs on plant variety protection and international seed movement. Her current role at East-West Seed is to guide and monitor the stakeholder engagement, policy and regulatory update, strengthening public relations and promoting the company’s position and mission on serving smallholder farmers with innovative seeds and sustainable agricultural practices.
Suandi Darmawan Tanuwijanto, APAC Agriculture Policy Program Manager, Corteva Agriscience
Suandi joined Corteva as the Sustainable Development Manager for the APAC region. As a part of the regional Government and Industry Affairs team, his current roles include improving strategy and analysis of policy, program, and partnership; leading government and stakeholder advocacy and engagement; and supporting technical guidance on agriculture policy and sustainability topics. He mostly focuses his works on shaping science-based policy agenda and advancing technology acceptance, license to operate, and policy alignment.
Kateryna Levy, Head of Partnerships, Atmo
Kateryna Levy is Head of Partnerships at Atmo, a leading San Francisco-based AI meteorology company delivering next-generation operational weather forecasts to users around the world. She oversees Atmo’s strategic partnerships and business development with governments, international organizations, and global enterprises. Her portfolio includes partnerships with the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, the United Nations, and the Republic of the Philippines. Prior to joining Atmo, Kateryna served in the Parliament of Canada and brings extensive experience in business development and strategic communications across the public and private sectors.
Hai Pham, Senior Research Director for Policy & Strategic Initiatives, US-ASEAN Business Council (Closing Remarks)
Hai Pham joined the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) in 2014 and is currently the Senior Research Director for Policy & Strategic Initiatives, a position he has held since January 2025. In this role, he oversees key industry portfolios including Health & Life Sciences, Food & Agriculture, Energy, and APEC based out of the Council’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. Prior to his current position, Hai served as the Senior Research Director for Mainland Southeast Asia, focusing on the growth of the Vietnam and Thailand portfolios. Before joining USABC, Hai worked as an International Business & Trade Associate at Teresa Global LLC in Springfield, VA. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs from the Elliott School at the George Washington University.
Brian Eyler, Director, Southeast Asia Program, Stimson Center (Moderator)
Brian Eyler directs the Southeast Asia Program and the Energy, Water, and Sustainability Program. He is an expert on transboundary issues in the Mekong region and specializes in China’s economic cooperation with Southeast Asia. He is widely recognized as a leading voice on environmental, energy, and water security issues in the Mekong. Brian is co-lead on the Mekong Dam Monitor. His first book, Last Days of the Mighty Mekong, was published by Zed Books in 2019.