ASEAN agri chiefs commit to deepening regional trade

The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) have vowed to deepen regional trade and cooperation by enhancing supply chains, adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, and building more resilient food production systems, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Saturday.

In a news release, the DA said that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., during a briefing at the 47th AMAF meeting, highlighted the consensus among ASEAN Member States (AMS) to focus on promoting sustainable land and water management. 

The integration of environmentally sound practices will help maintain productivity while safeguarding critical ecosystems, Tiu Laurel said.

The Philippine agriculture chief also highlighted the ministers' collective support for advancing digital and smart agriculture to boost food output. 

As chair of this year’s AMAF, Tiu Laurel announced two key initiatives to be prioritized through 2026 and beyond—the ASEAN Implementation Plan for Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture Systems as a Priority Economic Deliverable (PED) and the ASEAN One Billion Trees Growing Programme Initiative as an AMAF Key Annual Priority.

“This meeting strengthens ties among ASEAN countries. In times of market disruptions or emergencies, we can depend on one another to stabilize the prices of agricultural goods and ensure market balance,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DA said the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, and South Korea) agreed on nine strategic areas of cooperation focusing on the following:

• Strengthening Food Security (often the top priority, including emergency reserves like APTERR)
• Biomass Energy Development
• Sustainable Forest Management (SFM)
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (including resilience-building initiatives)
• Management of Animal Diseases and Plant Pests (e.g., biosecurity, transboundary disease control)
• Enhancement of Capacity-Building and Human Resource Development
• Enhancement of Productivity, Quality, and Marketability of Agricultural Products (including technology transfer and value chain development)
• Strengthening of Information and Knowledge Networking and Exchange
• Strengthening Collaboration on Research and Development (R&D)

In a move to further regional integration, the DA said AMS looks forward to Timor-Leste's full membership in ASEAN. 

Tiu Laurel said that Timor-Leste's inclusion will strengthen the region’s agricultural cooperation. 

He added that the Philippines, chairperson of ASEAN in 2026, is ready to support Timor-Leste through capacity-building programs, research collaboration, and assistance in developing its livestock sector. —VBL, GMA Integrated News