Two major contents at the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting

Within the framework of the 3^rd APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM3) in 2024, Food Security Week was held on August 12–18 in Trujillo City, Peru.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). The delegation attended many activities during Food Security Week, including technical workshops on strengthening control of food loss and waste and strengthening gender roles in food supply chains and digital transformation to promote green agricultural growth in the APEC region; a public-private partnership forum to promote regional food security; and a high-level policy dialogue on biotechnology in agriculture.

The delegation participated and actively contributed to the meetings of APEC Working Groups, including the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG), the Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS), the Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG), the Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT), and the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB).

The 9^th APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting took place on August 18, 2024, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Peru. The meeting focused on 2 major contents: (1) Preventing and reducing food loss and waste in the Asia-Pacific region; and (2) Role of the Government and the private sector in promoting the development of agricultural product value chains and ensuring national and regional food security.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, shared that sustainable agricultural development and food security are two of the pillars of Vietnam's socio-economic development strategy until 2030.

Vietnam prioritizes the development of circular and ecological agriculture, low-emission agriculture, and adaptation to climate change associated with improving livelihoods for rural residents.

The Government of Vietnam is committed to transforming the food system towards transparency, responsibility, and sustainability. Vietnam is well aware of the need for close cooperation among APEC economies in the food system to create profound changes throughout the system.

Vietnam wishes to coordinate with APEC member economies to implement many different initiatives towards green agricultural development and food security in the APEC region, promoting APEC economies to develop together and become a peaceful and prosperous region.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy also shared at the meeting that food loss and waste are big problems globally. In Vietnam, food loss and waste occur at a high rate.

Therefore, Vietnam highly appreciates Peru's efforts in coordinating with member economies to introduce principles for preventing and minimizing food loss and waste in the Asia-Pacific region.

The principles can be a good reference for all member economies in general and Vietnam in particular to improve food loss and waste control, thereby improving food readiness and stability. At the same time, tackle all environmental challenges, including climate change; reduce pollution; and help achieve more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in the region.

Vietnam expressed its support for the adoption of 7 important principles on preventing and minimizing food loss and waste in the Asia-Pacific region at the 9^th Food Security Ministerial Meeting and committed to joining APEC members in their efforts to implement the principles.

At the end of the meeting, the Ministers approved two documents: (1) Principles for Preventing and Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the Asia-Pacific Region; and (2) Ministerial Declaration at the 9^th APEC Food Security Meeting.