June 23, 2015

ASEAN's crop protection regulatory in need of harmonisation: CropLife Asia

ASEAN needs harmonisation in its crop protection regulatory in order to support all aspects of agriculture across the region, Dr. Siang Hee Tan, the executive director of CropLife Asia, said during the recent Responsible Business Forum on Food & Agriculture in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The two-day event started on June 23 at the Melia Hotel, bringing together more than 350 representatives from various sectors of the food and agriculture industries.

In his speech, Dr. Tan commended Vietnam for its agricultural sustainability advancements as the country approaches its 10-year regulatory anniversary in regards to plant biotechnology, a "critically important step for the region" as well. He also emphasised the importance of monitoring the progress of sustainable agriculture which will play a key role in food security.

"Sustainable agriculture in ASEAN is not a preference or a hope, it's a necessity and shared responsibility," said Dr. Tan. "With the world changing around us, the demands we put on agriculture here in our region and around the world are changing... As we ask our farmers to feed more people, with less impact to the environment and fewer resources, equipping them with the latest tools and technology is essential."

Therefore, one area to help boost agriculture sustainability rests in crop protection regulatory harmonisation. A comprehensive framework for crop protection technology, according to Dr. Tan, will produce "top-tier benefits" to agriculture in the ASEAN region. "...the plant science industry for our region is advocating for the framework's inclusion with AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) 2015. The stakes are simply too high to avoid this critical step forward," he said.

Such a regime had, in fact, been perceived by ASEAN's crop protection community as a way to support countries in pursuit of unique national agendas and agricultural goals.

With the implementation of the framework, farmers could be granted better access to the latest technology and innovations in crop protection while kept away from chemicals of questionable qualities which can cause yield and environmental damages. Also through the sharing of regulatory capacity, knowledge and data among ASEAN member states, there will be a reduced burden on regional governments as well as minimised costs and waste.

In addition, regulatory harmonisation could improve ASEAN's economic drive in agriculture through a cut-down in trade and investment barriers. Hence, the region, often recognised as the world's most productive region for food, will be able to better surmount the challenges of food security for the next decade.

Among the top eight agro-producing member countries, agriculture accounts for around 20% of national GDP on average, while the labour force in the industry stands at a staggering average of 46%. The disparity between the two figures highlights the opportunity that exists within the regional agricultural sector to reach greater efficiency and robustness.

"Unfortunately, by not seizing that opportunity fully, it keeps our region farther from the short term sustainability we're discussing today as well as food security for the future," Dr. Tan said.