New delhi: The Philippines has called for reinforced regional cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India to tackle food security risks, as reported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday. This initiative comes in response to the Philippine delegation's participation in the 9th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry held in New Delhi, India.
According to Philippines News Agency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who led the delegation and is also the ASEAN chairperson for 2026, emphasized that food security risks have transcended beyond being merely domestic concerns. He highlighted the impact of geopolitical and economic uncertainties, climate-related disasters, and fluctuations in energy, transport, food, and agricultural input markets on the resilience of food systems and supply chains.
Tiu Laurel noted that tensions causing disruptions in trade, transport, energy, and agricultural inputs are affecting regions beyond individual nations. He stressed the critical need for practical regional cooperation, open communication, and sustained partnerships to address these challenges. He further explained that global disruptions in markets and logistics quickly impact both farmers and consumers, underscoring the urgency of collaborative action.
Highlighting India's expertise in agriculture, food systems, research, technology, and capacity development, Tiu Laurel underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation with India. He noted that enhanced coordination would bolster regional preparedness in the face of global disruptions or potential supply crises.
Tiu Laurel expressed confidence that the discussions during the meeting would strengthen the ASEAN-India partnership, translating shared priorities into tangible and mutually beneficial cooperation. He looked forward to the next phase of ASEAN-India collaboration, emphasizing practical, results-oriented activities that contribute to food security, sustainability, resilience, innovation, knowledge exchange, and the welfare of agricultural communities.
The meeting also involved a review of the ASEAN-India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry for 2021 to 2025, as well as discussions on the next five-year plan from 2026 to 2030. Other topics included deliberations from the 47th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry meeting in 2025 and the special AMAF meeting in April 2026 regarding the Middle East situation.
The Philippine delegation also addressed issues specific to the Philippine context, focusing on extreme weather, geopolitical disruptions, and changes in the availability and pricing of fuel, fertilizer, feed, and other agricultural inputs.
