Jakarta, 5 April 2023: The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) presented initial findings on ‘Building and enhancing the sustainable agriculture and food system in ASEAN countries – Preliminary Scoping Study’ during the Seventeenth Meeting of ASEAN Technical Working Group on Agricultural Research and Development (ATWGARD). The meeting held virtually on 5 April 2023, was attended by ATWGARD representatives from ASEAN Member States (AMSs) and selected ASEAN partners.

Discussed in the meeting were the project activities of ASEAN partners, including ERIA. Mr Masanori Kozono, Policy Fellow at ERIA, explained several initial findings of ERIA’s preliminary scoping study. This study supports AMSs in implementing the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN which was adopted by the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) on 25 October 2022. The guidelines, recommend 28 key strategies to pursue sustainable agriculture in the region. Discussing the strategies, Mr Kozono underscored the short-term priority of ASEAN stakeholders, including farmers, to improve the overall health of soil and connect smallholders to markets, as well as their mid-long-term priority, which includes more broad targets such as ensuring food security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The study also identifies the challenges that stakeholders in AMSs confront in implementing the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture.  Mr Kozono explained that finance and market access as the main challenges in implementing the guidelines in the ASEAN region along with technology, infrastructure, human resources, agricultural inputs, and education. Furthermore, he said the study found that digital agriculture is not widespread in the ASEAN region, particularly in CLMV[i] Countries.

Mr Kozono concluded his presentation by stating ‘Development of a practical Action Plan of ASEAN Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture is highly expected’. The participants said they looked forward to the publication of the comprehensive study results. The ASEAN Secretariat acknowledged ERIA's contribution and continuous support in implementing the ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture.

ERIA is currently working with the ASEAN Secretariat in the Development of the Action Plan for the implementation of ASEAN Guidelines on Sustainable Agriculture.

[i] Data is available as an aggregation of CLMV, namely as a group of Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao People’s Republic and Viet Nam.