The Philippines, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), will host the 47th Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) and related events from September 29 to October 3, in Pasay City.
The Philippines, one five founding members of ASEAN, last hosted the AMAF in September 2015 in Makati City.
Led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the Philippines will chair a series of high-level discussions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in food, agriculture, and forestry. The meetings will focus on enhancing the international competitiveness of ASEAN agricultural products, advancing food security mechanisms, promoting sustainable farming practices, and unifying regional positions on global challenges.
“We anticipate a meaningful and productive gathering, particularly as AMAF works to craft a new roadmap that will shape agricultural and forestry policies across the region for the next decade. This effort aligns with ASEAN’s broader vision of becoming a single market and production base,” said Secretary Tiu Laurel.
The DA will preside over several major sessions, including the 47th AMAF Meeting, the 25th AMAF Plus Three Meeting (with China, Japan, and South Korea), and the 2nd ASEAN-Japan Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Meeting (AJMAF).
Recognized as the region’s highest decision-making body on agriculture and forestry, AMAF convenes annually with the participation of agriculture ministers and senior officials from all 10 ASEAN member-states—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
Ministers from China, Japan, and South Korea will also take part in the Plus Three sessions. Timor-Leste, which was accepted “in principle” as an ASEAN member in 2022, is expected to participate in this year’s meetings. Dialogue partners and international stakeholders will also be in attendance.
Key Issues on the agenda include:
- Strengthening regional food security
- Promoting intra- and extra-ASEAN trade in agriculture and forestry products
- Advancing technology generation and transfer to improve productivity and develop agribusiness and silvo-business
- Supporting rural community development and human resource capacity-building
- Encouraging private sector involvement and investment
- Promoting sustainable natural resource management and conservation
- Reinforcing ASEAN’s cooperation and unified response to regional and global challenges
The meetings will also include discussions on the impacts of climate change in Southeast Asia, particularly in the agriculture sector, underscoring the region’s shared commitment to resilience and sustainability.
