JAKARTA, 21 November 2023 – The ASEAN secretariat and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) jointly organised a symposium on promoting resilient and sustainable agriculture and food system through innovation, with the support of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
The symposium, titled “ASEAN’s Initiatives and Japan’s Contribution”was held in commemoration of the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. Over 130 participants from the Ministries of Agriculture and Forestry of ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, as well as private companies and university researchers, attended the symposium both physically and virtually.
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Economic Community Satvinder Singh in his remarks highlighted the progress of implementation of the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture, carbon neutrality strategy and the reduction of the use of hazardous pesticides.
Vice Minister of MAFF Ryosuke Ogawa expressed his commitment to contribute in building a strong and sustainable agriculture and food system in ASEAN region through innovation, based on the ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan, which was adopted at the ASEAN-Japan Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Meeting earlier this year.
The symposiums aimed to promote food security initiatives being pursued by ASEAN countries to the relevant stakeholders representing public and private sectors in the region and Japan. The symposium also heard panel discussions and presentations on various innovative initiatives in agricultural and food sectors by both Japanese and ASEAN companies, as well as witness JICA’s launch of the ASEAN-JICA Food Value Chain Development Project.
In the discussion panel, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia, Dr. Candradijaya, discussed the salient features of ASEAN Leaders’Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises, which was adopted at the ASEAN Summit in September 2023. Following suit, the Senior Principal Assistant Secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, Juliana Hii Li Li, highlighted key outcomes of the 45th AMAF Meeting, including the priority deliverables of ASEAN for 2024.
Following the symposium, the Mission of Japan to ASEAN hosted the 5th Japanese Food Lecture and Demonstration Event (here).
- ASEAN Summit Declaration on Promoting Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture and Food System through Innovation: ASEAN’s Initiatives and Japan’s Contribution can be downloaded here
- ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan (ASEAN-Japan Agriculture and Forestry Ministerial Meeting 2023) can be downloaded here
- Panelists and moderator of the companies panel session
– PT Ajinomoto Indonesia
– Revoganix Sdn Bhd
– Thai Wah Public Company Limited
– Sagri Co., Ltd
– Physiz Agritech Pvt. Ltd.
– Organica Biotech Pvt. Ltd.
– Grow Asia
Moderator: Prof. Paul Teng, Managing Director & Dean, NIE International Pte. Ltd.
