Forty countries in the Asia-Pacific region have affirmed the necessity of transforming agrifood systems to secure the food future for generations to come, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The consensus was reached at the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC37) in Colombo, hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka. This in-person gathering, the first since 2018, emphasized the region’s commitment to recover from pandemic-induced disruptions in food production and distribution.
In a significant move, forty Asia-Pacific countries have acknowledged the imperative need to transform agrifood systems for the future food security of their nations. The consensus emerged at the 37th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC37), held in Colombo and hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka. Notably, this in-person gathering, featuring around 20 government ministers, signifies a collective effort to address challenges posed by the pandemic and disruptions in food production and distribution. The FAO emphasized the wake-up call from the global pandemic, urging a global priority on food affordability, availability, and agricultural production. The conference concluded with recommendations for FAO and other stakeholders to focus on sustainable productivity, innovation, transparent markets, digital innovations, blended finance, and specific issues like local food systems, low carbon practices, and water concerns. The Asia-Pacific region’s leadership in capture fisheries and aquaculture was also acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of sustainable development in aquatic food systems for improved food security and livelihoods.
