ASEAN-CGIAR Program Advances Food and Nutrition Security in ASEAN

13 November 2024 - The ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program recently visited the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributing efforts to strengthen CGIAR-ASEAN collaboration. During the visit, the program's delegations met with H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Economic Community, and Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Assistant Director of the Food, Agriculture and Forestry Division.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review the program's progress, discuss plans, and explore potential avenues for collaboration. Dr. Jongsoo Shin, Director of the ASEAN-CGIAR program shared the latest updates on the program's progress, key achievements in the past year including its multi-center collaborative approach, and plans for the next phase. The importance of scaling up impactful interventions was highlighted, particularly in the areas prioritized by ASEAN member states and donor partners.

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H.E. Singh emphasized the need to shift towards regenerative agriculture as a cornerstone of ASEAN's agricultural sector. This approach aims to improve farm efficiency, reduce chemical use, enhance farmer livelihoods, and decrease the carbon footprint in agriculture. Focusing on regenerative practices will create a more sustainable and resilient food system.

The discussion also covered various aspects of program sustainability including exploring opportunities with regional and multilateral partners.. H.E. Singh stressed the significance of securing ASEAN's endorsement for funding opportunities and expressed support for developing a comprehensive plan for the program's future.

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In addition to meeting with ASEAN Secretariat officials, the ASEAN-CGIAR program engaged with key funders from Australia, the United Kingdom, and Japan and missions and development partners from the Netherlands, USA, and EU. Appreciating the program's key achievements, partners strongly agreed on the importance of sustainable agriculture in addressing food and nutrition security in the ASEAN region.

The ASEAN-CGIAR Program is poised to enter its next phase, focusing on scaling up successful initiatives and addressing emerging challenges. By fostering strong partnerships with governments, international organizations, and the private sector, the program aims to continue to significantly impact food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture in the ASEAN region.