The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has launched the first Asia-Pacific Food Forum (APFF) in Brunei Darussalam to accelerate the transformation of agriculture and food systems across the region. The forum brings together ministers, experts, businesses, farmers, and youth to explore ways to boost investment, strengthen innovation, and expand opportunities in the agricultural sector.
FAO leaders emphasized the urgency of scaling up existing solutions and improving coordination between innovation, markets, and investment. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stressed that effective tools already exist and must now be expanded and better connected to deliver impact. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu also called for stronger financial commitments and greater use of science and technology to modernize food systems and improve resilience.
A key focus of the forum is increasing both public and private investment in agriculture, alongside promoting FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative. This programme supports countries in developing priority agricultural products by improving productivity, quality standards, and market access, with the aim of making food systems more efficient and competitive.
The forum also announced new Centres of Excellence, including the Institute of Geographic Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University. These institutions will support smallholder farmers by strengthening food quality, improving productivity, enhancing climate resilience, and improving traceability from production to consumers.
Gender equality and youth participation were also central themes, with dedicated discussions highlighting the role of women farmers and young innovators in shaping the future of agriculture. Participants called for better access to finance, training, and technology to ensure inclusive growth and stronger participation in agrifood systems.
Held alongside the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, the APFF reinforces regional cooperation to build more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems across Asia-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on turning policy discussions into practical results.
