Asia-Pacific Food Forum Launches in Brunei Darussalam to Boost Regional Food Security
Brunei Darussalam hosted the inaugural Asia-Pacific Food Forum (APFF) on April 22, 2026, as part of the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific. The forum brought together ministers, development partners, financial institutions, private sector leaders, scientists, innovators, women farmers, and youth to accelerate agrifood systems transformation across the region.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu emphasized the need for stronger investment and greater use of science and innovation to improve food systems during the opening session. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol called for urgent action to scale up existing regional solutions, stating, “We do not lack solutions — what we need is to scale them, and to better connect priorities with investment, innovation with markets, and people with opportunities.”
The forum highlighted the importance of increased funding from both governments and the private sector. It likewise promoted FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) program, which supports countries in developing key agricultural products by improving quality, productivity, and market access.
During the event, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative Alue Dohong named two institutions as Centres of Excellence: the Institute of Geographic Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University. These institutions will support farmers by enhancing food quality, productivity, and market access.
The Asia-Pacific Food Forum was held alongside the 38th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC38), which took place from April 20 to 24, 2026, in Bandar Seri Begawan. The conference addressed mounting pressures on agrifood systems due to climate change, ecosystem degradation, vulnerable supply chains, and geopolitical tensions affecting global trade and energy markets.
Crown Prince of Brunei Al-Muhtadee Billah opened the conference, urging countries to enhance cooperation in building resilient and sustainable food systems. He noted that food systems across the region face increasing pressure from climate-related disruptions and conflicts in the Middle East, which continue to impact global trade and energy markets.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu echoed the call for collective resilience, emphasizing that public resources alone will not be sufficient to address regional food security challenges. He pointed to financing and investment as central themes of the conference discussions.
Despite progress in agricultural productivity and innovation, the Asia-Pacific region remains home to more than half of the world’s population and still accounts for the largest number of food-insecure people globally. Indonesia’s Acting Director General for Estate Crops, Ali Jamil, outlined the country’s commitment to structural reforms and farmer-centered policies during the conference.
The forum and conference underscored the need for stronger regional cooperation, increased investment, and science-driven innovation to advance food security, nutrition, resilience, and rural employment — particularly for youth and women — across Asia and the Pacific.