Digitalization and other innovative technologies offer us the opportunity to improve food security by increasing productivity, minimizing food waste, dealing with climate change, natural disasters, and facilitating food wastage.
Jakarta (ANTARA), APEC members are working to ensure food security, so people are not hungry, and well nourished. This is according to the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security.
In a written statement, the Asia-Pacific government stated that food security, food safety, sustainable agriculture development, and food security have been issues for many years in the region. These concerns are still a priority as it works to overcome the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chantanon Wannakejohn (chair of the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security) stated that although member economies have different food systems, they are all vulnerable to similar risks. This is why collaboration is key in our efforts strengthen food security in APEC.
He emphasized the need for all APEC countries to improve the quality and quantity of their food production as well as the way they trade food products.
“While we seek ways to grow and expand our production, it is important to reduce the environmental impact on food value chains and support positive environmental outcomes.” he stated.
He said that APEC should play a role in addressing key food security issues because we are both significant food producers and consumers.
Sustainability has become the main focus area of APEC with officials advancing the region’s vision to restore growth that is strong, balanced, secure, sustainable, and inclusive, which also includes ensuring food security and safety, he said.
He noted that last year, the agriculture and food ministers reaffirmed and launched a new 10-year food security plan to ensure that APEC’s food system is open, transparent, productive, sustainable, resilient, and resilient.
He stated that the Policy Partnership on Food Security will be focusing on the development of concrete actions to implement the APEC Food Security Roadmap 2030.
Member economies have sought wider adoption of global data standards in order to improve transparency and efficiency of food value chain chains. A review is planned for 2025 to take advantage of the rapid development of digital technology during the pandemic.
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Chantanon stated that digitalization and other innovative technologies offer us opportunities to improve food security by increasing productivity, minimizing food losses and waste, dealing in climate change and natural catastrophes, as well facilitating food waste.
He added that member economies will be exploring domestic schemes and programs to encourage innovation products and solutions, and research and development of new technologies like smart farming, moving forward.
Public-private partnership will also play a key role in supporting members’ individual and collective efforts to minimize the food system’s harmful impact on the environment, he said. He noted that economies are already looking to increase public-private investments in infrastructure and cold-chain to decrease food loss and waste.
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Chantanon stated, “We strongly believe that food security and economic growth are dependent on how we foster growth in parallel to creating the balance in the economy, social and environment front.”
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“This is also consistent with the theme, priorities and goals of APEC Thailand 2022,” he said.
Thailand has made the economic model of biocircular-green (BCG), one of its top priorities for this year. Agriculture and the food sector are one of the main focus industries — the goal being product diversification and the migration of low-value commodities to value-added products.
The August 2022 APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting is set to take place.
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