Manila, 1–2 October 2025: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe led a delegation to the 47th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) and the 2nd Meeting of ASEAN–Japan Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AJMAF), held in Manila, Philippines.

At the AMAF meeting on 1 October, President Watanabe presented the progress of ASEAN–ERIA cooperation, focusing on decarbonisation and digitalisation in the Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (FAF) sectors.

He outlined ERIA’s ongoing contributions to advancing a sustainable agri-food system in the region, particularly through:

1. Supporting the development of the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan (FAF-SP) 2026–2030, a cornerstone document guiding ASEAN’s FAF priorities over the next 5 years; and
2. Conducting policy research in key priority areas including biochar promotion, forest carbon markets, and digital agriculture.

President Watanabe detailed three key studies:

• The biochar project, which includes an assessment study and the drafting of ASEAN Guidelines on Biochar Adoption;
• A forest carbon market study assessing carbon sequestration potential and proposing pathways for carbon trading and financing; and
• A digital agriculture study, identifying barriers such as limited digital infrastructure, low literacy, and high costs.

He emphasised that digitalisation is currently driven by short-term productivity goals, while long-term environmental benefits remain underemphasised. ERIA’s recommendations include:

• Enhancing rural digital infrastructure;
• Building digital literacy and capacity;
• Expanding smallholder access to finance; and
• Developing robust digital agriculture policies.

President Watanabe reaffirmed ERIA’s readiness to contribute to a practical action plan that will operationalise the ASEAN Guidelines on Digital Agriculture.

ASEAN Ministers expressed appreciation for ERIA’s evidence-based research and policy support, particularly citing work on biochar adoption, forest carbon markets, food reserves, and digitalisation. They also welcomed ERIA’s partnership in translating research findings into actionable regional initiatives.

At the AJMAF meeting on 2 October, President Watanabe announced the upcoming ASEAN–Japan Symposium for Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development in ASEAN: Focusing on Decarbonisation and Digitalisation, scheduled for 25–27 November 2025 in Tokyo. The event, co-organised by the ASEAN Secretariat, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and ERIA, will convene policymakers, industry experts, and international partners to share best practices and explore collaborative models.

On the sidelines, President Watanabe held bilateral discussions with ASEAN ministers and representatives from international organisations, exploring opportunities for future collaboration on food security, sustainable agriculture, and digital transformation.

ERIA remains committed to supporting ASEAN’s vision for a sustainable, resilient, and innovative agri-food system through research, policy advice, and capacity-building activities.

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In the Joint Press Statement (JPS) of the 47th AMAF meeting and the 2nd AJMAF meeting, ERIA was mentioned several times as follows;

JPS of the 47th AMAF meeting

11. The Meeting appreciated the valuable support provided by ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, international organisations, and other partners in advancing regional cooperation in food, agriculture, and forestry.
12. In this regard, the Meeting acknowledged the contributions of key partners such as… the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in providing policy research and evidence-based recommendations;…

JPS of the 2nd AMAF meeting

5. The Meeting also recognised the valuable contributions of international partners, … the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)..., in supporting capacity building, research, and policy development.
7. The Meeting appreciated ERIA’s support for organising ‘ASEAN-Japan Symposium for Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development in ASEAN: Focusing on Decarbonisation and Digitalisation’ to be held on 25th - 27th November 2025 in Tokyo.