May 28, 2024

 

FAO organises first high-level event on advancing bioeconomy for sustainable agriculture in Southeast Asia

 

A high-level meeting to explore diverse bioeconomy opportunities and collaboration mechanisms in Southeast Asia as part of the region's move toward an agrifood system transformation, opened on May 20 in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

This hybrid event has been organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of Thailand's National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC).

 

The event has attracted more than 100 high-level participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The deliberations are focusing on bioeconomy-related issues in all food and agricultural sectors of Southeast Asia. The aim is to assist in accelerating the momentum of bioeconomy-related initiatives, to help boost and sustain growth in Southeast Asia.

 

At the meeting, attendees learned how bioeconomy can harness the power of bioscience, biotechnology and innovations to address different challenges.

 

During the opening session, Robert Simpson, FAO's Special Advisor and Regional Programme Leader said: "Bioeconomy provides a range of mitigating opportunities, particularly in the field of agriculture, with the use of science, technology and innovation to transform agrifood systems and imperative of food security and nutrition."

 

Kanchana Wanichkorn, director of sectoral development (ASEAN Secretariat), said: "Bioeconomy offers transformative potential to sustainably redefine our agricultural and food systems and shared bioeconomy-related policies and initiatives in the region."

 

Junpen Meka-apiruk, chief inspector general at Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology & Innovation, shared the overview of the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) model which is the country's strategy for national development and post-pandemic recovery. It targets four main sectors: agriculture and food, wellness and medicine, energy, materials and biochemicals, and tourism and the creative economy.

 

Sukit Limpijumnong, president of Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency, emphasised the importance and how bio-innovation has contributed to accelerating the country's bioeconomy growth.

 

"By harnessing the potential of bio-innovations, we can address complex challenges and drive economic growth," said Limpijumnong,

 

Illias Animon, FAO's focal point for bioeconomy for the Asia-Pacific region, highlighted the need of working more closely together with the bioeconomy partners in Southeast Asia and FAO, which is the first and, so far, the only UN agency to elevate bioeconomy as a strategic priority.

 

The event in Bangkok is the first in a series to share knowledge and discuss how to move forward with a more joint and shared vision to scale up bioeconomy in the region, including through a Regional Bioeconomy Summit in 2025, which is being discussed among partners.

 

- FAO