- ASEAN agriculture ministers have called for stronger regional coordination to safeguard food security and agricultural trade amid ongoing global shocks and escalating geopolitical tensions.
- Disruptions to energy markets, rising transportation costs, and limited supply of key agricultural inputs are increasing pressure on food systems.
- There is a commitment to strengthen ASEAN-wide cooperation, expand the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR), and consider including other essential staples.
The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) released a formal statement on safeguarding food security and agricultural supply chains amid global uncertainties on April 29.
The statement expressed deep concern over escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the risks they post to global and regional food security.
“We recognise that disruptions to energy markets, rising transportation costs, and constraints in the supply of key agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, are already exerting pressure on agricultural production systems and food prices, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations across ASEAN.”
Against this backdrop, AMAF stressed the importance of keeping international sea lanes open and secure in line with the principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded transit under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We reaffirm the importance of maintaining the unimpeded flow of essential goods, including food, fertilisers, and agricultural inputs, and underscore the need to avoid unnecessary trade restrictions that could further exacerbate global food insecurity and market volatility.”
Safeguarding food security
The leaders emphasised the need to strengthen ASEAN-wide cooperation as a buffer against external shocks, including the expansion of the scope and application of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).
The ministers agreed to explore reforms that would allow quicker mobilisation of earmarked rice, broaden the definition of emergency to reflect newer types of disruptions, and extend it to other essential staples such as cooking oil.
They also supported the development of ready-to-eat food mechanisms for rapid deployment during emergencies.
The statement also highlighted the need for more frequent and timely information-sharing on food production, fertiliser supply, prices, and logistics disruptions.
In line with this, the leaders agreed to build on existing platforms such as the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS), while strengthening coordination with other relevant sectoral bodies.
Recognising fertilisers and animal feed as strategic inputs, AMAF called for deeper regional cooperation to improve access and manage risks.
This includes sharing information on national stock levels and demand projections, assessing supply chain constraints, and exploring opportunities for coordinated or aggregated procurement, potentially in collaboration with global traders.
AMAF also highlighted the need to improve input efficiency as both a short- and long-term resilience strategy.
They committed to promoting capacity-building for prudent fertiliser use through more efficient production systems, including circular economy approaches such as better crop residue management to reduce open burning.
They also called for wider adoption of precision farming technologies and bio-fertilisers to help farmers reduce dependency on imported chemical inputs while transitioning towards more sustainable agricultural practices.
Collaboration needed
The statement emphasised the cross-sectoral nature of the current challenges and called for greater coordination within the region, particularly across agriculture, energy, trade, and finance sectors.
“We call on all partners to support ASEAN’s efforts in strengthening food security resilience, by restoring peace, stability and quick return to normalcy, as well as through technical cooperation, capacity building, and investment in sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient and regenerative agricultural systems.”
The ASEAN leaders agreed to engage with multi-lateral development banks to help address procurement challenges for food and agricultural inputs during the crisis period.
Proposed measures included trade guarantees and loans to support member states during this time of crisis.
