The World Farmers Markets Coalition is pleased to support the Mindful Markets Bangkok Forum 2026, an international gathering dedicated to exploring how markets can become powerful spaces for care, collaboration, and food system transformation.
Taking place from 18–19 June 2026 at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, the Forum will bring together farmers, market organisers, researchers, entrepreneurs, activists, policymakers, students, and community leaders from across Asia, Europe, and beyond. Field studies and excursions will follow on 20–21 June.
Organised by INI–Innovation Network International, the Food Spirit Project & Food Spirit Labs, and a wide network of partners, the event marks the relaunch of the Mindful Markets movement, an inspirational international platform first initiated between 2013 and 2019 to encourage exchange, co-learning, and collaboration around conscious food systems.
Markets as Spaces of Care and Transformation
The Forum is rooted in the idea that markets are more than places of economic exchange. They can become relational spaces where producers, consumers, communities, and institutions work together to create food systems based on awareness, reciprocity, and shared responsibility.
The concept of Mindful Markets connects with broader global movements that apply mindfulness principles to societal challenges, from the United Kingdom’s “Mindful Nation” initiatives addressing mental health, to Bhutan’s “Mindful Cities” approach inspired by Gross National Happiness principles.
Through discussions, workshops, and field visits, participants will explore how markets can contribute to:
- Strengthening territorial and community-based farmers markets
- Supporting institutional procurement of healthy local food for schools, hospitals, and universities
- Promoting ecological production and biodiversity protection
- Encouraging collaboration between producers and consumers
- Advancing systemic transformation toward an economy of care
The Forum will also examine the hidden social and environmental costs of extractive “free market” systems, including soil degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, inequality, and public health impacts.
WorldFMC Participation
As part of the programme, the World Farmers Markets Coalition will contribute to a dedicated session presenting experiences and inspiring stories from farmers markets across Asia.
The session will include:
- An Overview of WorldFMC presented by President Richard McCarthy and Director General Carmelo Troccoli
- Stories and experiences from:
- HealthBridge, Viet Nam, Tran Thi Kieu Thannk Ha
- Farmers’ Markets in Bangladesh by Naima Akter
- Australia Farmer Markets Network by Tim Walsh
- Future Collaboration by WorldFMC team, Achala Samaradivakara, Wallapa van Willenswaard and friends
The session aim to strengthen dialogue and collaboration among market initiatives throughout the region.
Building a Global Network of Conscious Markets
The Mindful Markets Bangkok Forum seeks to build bridges among diverse networks and initiatives working toward healthier, fairer, and more resilient food systems. By connecting grassroots experiences with institutional and policy-level discussions, the Forum hopes to inspire long-term collaboration across sectors and regions.
Partners and supporters include:
- INI-Innovation Network International
- Food Spirit Project & Food Spirit Labs
- Spiritual Health Program, ThaiHealth
- Food Program, ThaiHealth
- AS-Institution of Asia Studies, Chulalongkorn University
- World Farmers Markets Coalition
- TOA-Towards Organic Asia
- Mindful Markets partners
- CoFSA-Conscious Food Systems Alliance
For more information, please contact Hans and Wallapa van Willenswaard
