Agriculture minister Dith Tina (fifth from right) poses for a group photo with his counterparts at the 45th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (45th AMAF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 6. MAFF
The ASEAN ministers of agriculture and forestry fortified their commitments towards the food, agriculture and forestry (FAF) sectors at their recently concluded 45th meeting (45th AMAF) in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The challenges of climate change, pandemics and geopolitical tension within the ASEAN region were at the forefront of discussions, according to a joint press release issued on October 6.
The ministers stressed the importance of increased collaboration, innovation and resilience across these sectors. Several key areas were earmarked for heightened cooperation.
“The importance of [green farming] practices in ensuring long-term food security and environmental sustainability cannot be overstated,” the joint statement said.
Stakeholders have been encouraged to realise the ASEAN regional guidelines on sustainable agriculture. This encompasses the adoption of precision farming, climate-smart production and agroecology to optimise resource usage, curtail greenhouse gas emissions and fortify the robustness of farming systems.
A call to action was also directed at ASEAN sectoral working groups to continue the implementation of FAF key priorities. These issues comprise the promotion of renewable and circular farming, reduction in harmful agrochemicals, promotion of nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based approaches (EbA) and the digitalisation of the FAF sectors, among others.
The meeting’s participants expressed the need for nations within the ASEAN community to devise initiatives congruent with regional priorities. They further solicited the ASEAN Secretariat’s assistance in fostering these initiatives and collaborating with strategic partners.
In light of the development of an action plan tailored to the ASEAN guidelines on sustainable agriculture, the importance of a facilitative policy environment was stressed, to spur renewable practices and ensure regulatory adherence.
“Market access and value chain development should be central to the action plan,” the statement said, beckoning relevant stakeholders, especially the private sector, to partner with the ASEAN secretariat in identifying meaningful projects for the plan.
The meeting spotlighted the need to diminish carbon emissions via NbS/EbA initiatives like reforestation and carbon capture. Harnessing the full potential of NbS/EbA would enable ASEAN to devise strategies amplifying innovative technologies and fostering equitable growth across the FAF sectors.
“The [ministers] reaffirmed their commitment to initiatives supporting sustainable forest management, conservation, social forestry and cross-border efforts against illegal logging and wildlife trafficking. They also emphasised the importance of forest law enforcement and the promotion of nature-based solutions,” the statement read.
