The ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework aims to ensure long-term food security and nutrition and to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the ASEAN region. The AIFS Framework has the following objectives: (i) to sustain and increase food production; (ii) to reduce post-harvest losses; (iii) to promote conducive market and trade for agricultural commodities and inputs; (iv) to ensure food stability and affordability; (v) to ensure food safety, quality and nutrition; (vi) to promote availability and accessibility to agriculture inputs; and (vii) to operationalize regional food emergency relief arrangements. The Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS) outlines nine corresponding strategic thrusts to the AIFS Framework’s Components for the period of 2021-2025. The SPA-FS stresses on strengthening food security, including emergency/shortage relief arrangement, by ensuring fully functioning regional food security reserve and sustainability of the food supply chain with enhancement to the seed industry. Conducive food market and trade will be promoted through regional food trade distributing more diverse and affordable food at more stable prices and capacity building of the members of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board. Integrated food security information systems will be strengthened to effectively forecast, plan and monitor supplies and utilization for basic food commodities. The ASEAN Food Security Information System will be established as a permanent and fully functional early warning, monitoring, and surveillance information system with stronger network of sources of food market data and information in the region. Sustainable food production will be promoted by disseminating R&D outputs, improved practices in agri-based and food value chains. Food safety information on commodity-specific production will be developed through food fraud surveillance system in terms of mitigation and prevention. The capacity of key players will be strengthened on safety food production along food value chain. Greater investment in food and agri-based industry will be encouraged to enhance food security. The development of agri-based and regional food supply chain will be supported through public-private sector partnerships. The SPA-FS emphasizes the need to identify and address emerging issues related to food security. The long-term implications of bioenergy development, demographic structural changes and urbanization on food security will be identified. Climate smart agriculture approach will be introduced in the ASEAN Member States in order to ensure food security and nutrition, increase agricultural productivity and incomes, build resilience to climate change as well as reduce emissions. Key nutrition information and indicators will be identified for food security monitoring and policy development, and they will integrated into the ASEAN Food Security Information System. Nutrition-enhancing agricultural development will be promoted in the ASEAN Member States. The implementation of the SPA-FS 2021-2025 shall be frequently reviewed and updated. A final evaluation shall be conducted in 2025.
2020-10-21