Bangkok (GNP): The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has called on Asia and the Pacific to speed up the transformation of its agrifood systems. The call came at a high-level regional Policy Dialogue held in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Government representatives, ambassadors, development partners and other stakeholders attended. They discussed how to scale innovation, unlock investment and strengthen partnerships to ease growing pressure on food security, nutrition, livelihoods and the environment.
The dialogue was held on the occasion of World Food Day 2026, under the theme “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow”. It examined how the region can turn innovation and policy priorities into practical solutions while building resilience to climate-related shocks and other disruptions.
Discussions covered three areas: innovation for food security and nutrition, trade and investment, and food security, nutrition and resilience. Participants stressed that enabling policies, investment and stronger collaboration are needed to bring innovative solutions to scale and deliver real benefits to communities.
One result of the dialogue was a new partnership to strengthen monitoring, preparedness and anticipatory action against the impacts of El Niño. It brings together FAO, the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Timor-Leste Red Cross. The partners marked the collaboration with a ceremonial signing.
The initiative will strengthen preparedness in Timor-Leste and the Philippines, helping vulnerable communities act earlier ahead of El Niño-related impacts. It is expected to reach approximately 43,000 people.
The partnership aims to support earlier and more coordinated action against climate-related risks. In doing so, it seeks to protect food security and livelihoods and reduce the impact on vulnerable communities.
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The dialogue also underscored the role of joint priority actions in turning regional priorities into concrete results. Ken Shimizu, FAO Deputy Regional Representative, led the discussion on next steps and drew together the key messages from the three sessions.
Several ambassadors led and contributed to those sessions. They included Andalib Elias, Ambassador of Bangladesh, OYU Vasha, Ambassador of Mongolia, Dhan Bahadur Oli, Ambassador of Nepal, and Saadia Altaf Qazi, Ambassador of Pakistan.
Fabrice Filliez, Ambassador of Switzerland, and Pongthai Thaiyotin, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, also took part, along with representatives of governments and of development and humanitarian partners.
The dialogue closed with a shared commitment to shape agrifood systems that deliver nutritious food, sustainable livelihoods and greater opportunities for future generations across the region.
Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, said, “Innovation alone is not enough; turning it into impact needs partnership and investment.”
Ken Shimizu said, “Our response must be as connected as the challenges facing agrifood systems.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
