JAIF Support for Food, Agriculture, and Forestry
Background
With over one hundred million hectares of agricultural land, ASEAN is a major producer, supplier, and exporter of various crops and grains, particularly rice. Collectively, the region has also become the world’s largest and rapidly growing producer of palm oil and natural rubber in recent years.1 The food, agriculture, and forestry sector remains a strategic sector within the region, providing a major source of income and employment for a large proportion of the ASEAN population.
At the same time, ASEAN is faced with emerging challenges of enhancing resilience to climate change while increasing sustainable agricultural production and productivity to ensure food security. To address such challenges, innovative and sustainable agricultural practices and technologies are gaining more importance in helping ASEAN agriculture transit to highly productive, economically viable, and environmentally sound one.
Source: Theory vs practice: Patterns of the ASEAN-10 agri-food trade. Available from: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/opag-2021-0014/html#j_opag-2021-0014_fig_001 (accessed on 5 December 2022).
Guided by the Vision and Strategic Plan of ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry 2016-2025, the ASEAN’s food, agriculture, and forestry sector strives to: 1) ensure equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth; 2) alleviate poverty and eradicating hunger; 3) ensure food security, food safety and better nutrition; 4) deepen regional integration; 5) enhance access to global markets; 6) increase resilience to, and contribute to mitigation and adaptation of climate change, natural disasters and other shock; and 7) achieve Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
Japan has a long history of cooperation on food, agriculture, and forestry with ASEAN, both bilateral and multilateral. Under the framework of ASEAN+3 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF+3), Japan is committed to strengthening resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems which are essential for improving food security.2
Adopted at the first ASEAN-Japan Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry Meeting (AJMAF) on 4 October 2023, “The ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan”, aims to strengthen cooperation with the ASEAN Member States by leveraging Japanese technology and sharing experiences to build resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems in the ASEAN region, ultimately, contributing to regional food security.
Areas of Support and
Key Contributions
Under the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement, ASEAN and Japan initiated several economic cooperation projects including capacity building and technical assistance in areas of mutual interests. Through JAIF, Japan supported six projects3 to enhance agricultural productivities.
Various JAIF projects have also been implemented in support of the current key strategies of ASEAN for food, agriculture, and forestry. The following are the key achievements of the JAIF projects under the Vision and Strategic Plan of ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry 2016-2025.
JAIF Flagship Project under Food, Agriculture, and Forestry
Over the past few years, JAIF has been committed to supporting ASEAN Regional Diagnostic Network (ARDN) through the project Taxonomic Capacity Building to Support Market Access for Agricultural Trade in the ASEAN Region. A database of experts and diagnostic laboratories has been developed under this initiative. In addition, nearly 70 plant health professionals have participated in capacity building activities, including a participant from Singapore, who reflected on her experience during the training.
Ms. Ariene G. Castillo, Senior Scientist, National Parks Board, Animal and Plant Health Centre, Singapore
Collection of Leafminers in Mt. Takamado, Nara Prefecture
©Ariene G. Castillo
As one of the outstanding participants during the training workshop on diagnostic of leaf miners, Ariene was selected to join a two-month attachment program in Japan. The program allowed her to gain more in-depth knowledge on taxonomical identification of economically important leaf miners. The senior scientist also recounted the time she walked for 12 km to collect specimens in Yamatokoriyama City, Nara Prefecture. “We examined plants with symptoms of mining and signs of leaf mining larvae or pupae from plants, such as Prunus sp. (Sakura) and Quercus sp. (Oak).”
The attachment program engaged 17 Japanese experts and researchers from different universities and institutions across Japan to teach the participants different techniques to diagnose leaf miners. “I had the opportunity to study in different parts of Japan from north to south regions. The experts showed different diagnostic skills by combining traditional and molecular techniques for leaf miners and other pests, which broaden our diagnostic capability and competency to handle all pest diagnoses.”
After participating in the attachment program, Ariene was able to transfer the skills she obtained during the attachment program to other entomologists in her organisation. She believes that the program is not only increasing her confidence but also contributing to capacity enhancement of her institution. Read more on her story in Beneficiaries’ Voice.
JAIF continues to extend its support to food, agriculture, and forestry sector through these projects which are currently ongoing: 1)Development and the Spread of Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Low-Carbon Food Systems in the ASEAN Region; 2)Implementation and Assessment of the ASEAN Regional Plan of Action for the Management of Fishing Capacityl; 3)Demonstration Project on the Application of Biological Control Agents (BCA) as a Countermeasure against Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Aquaculture and Livestock in ASEAN; 4)Development of Stock Assessment Methods and Strengthening of Resources Management Measures for Tropical Anguillid Eel in Southeast Asia; 5)Promotion of Crop Insurance in ASEAN through the Public and Private Partnership; 6)Efficiency Enhancement of Regional Irrigation Water Management in Gravity Irrigation System; 7)Mangrove Ecosystem Management in ASEAN Region; 8)Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund Capacity Development Program for ASEAN RiceNet4>; and 9) Regional Collaborative Research and Capacity Building for Monitoring and Reduction of Marine Debris from Fisheries in Southeast Asia.
2https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2.-Final-JPS-22nd-AMAF-Plus-Three.pdf .
3 The six projects contributed to the ASEAN Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement are 1) Capacity Building Regarding Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) in ASEAN Region; 2) Capacity Enhancement in Rice Production in Southeast Asia under Organic Agriculture Farming System; 3) Strengthening of Regional Knowledge on Rural Renewable Energy (Biogas) Development for ASEAN Countries; 4) The Applications of Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides in ASEAN Countries’ Agriculture Sector; 5) Capacity Building Regarding Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) in ASEAN Region – Phase 2; and 6) Capacity Building of ASEAN Biotechnology Researchers for Livestock Resiliency and Sustainability.
4 The project also supports Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan IV (2021-2025).
