This document discusses the dichotomy between traditional "green" and industrialized "brown" agriculture in Laos from three perspectives: agro-ecology, political-economy, and socio-cultural. It notes trends towards the expansion of brown agriculture and increasing mechanization, the promotion of export-driven industrial farms over small-scale agriculture, and the erosion of indigenous knowledge and farmer identities as more shift to wage labor. The document concludes that development efforts may need to shift focus from driving change to mitigating impacts, such as campaigns on chemical safety, strengthening farmer organizations, and improving nutrition for rural workers.