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Agricultural Experts Push for Climate-Smart Innovations to Ensure Food Security
Issued by the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group“Climate change as manifested by the increasing temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, and significant increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events has caused disastrous consequences around the world,” said Dr Su-San Chang, lead shepherd of the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG), on Thursday when she opened the 28th ATCWG Annual Meeting in Trujillo, a coastal city located 550 kilometers north of Peru’s capital.
Held during Food Security Week, the meeting brought together officials and experts from the APEC region to address key challenges and opportunities in agriculture. In her opening remarks, Dr Chang emphasized the critical role of agriculture in meeting the growing global demand for food and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
“The global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, requiring a 30 percent increase in food production,” said Dr Chang. “This challenge, coupled with limited resources, an aging workforce, and climate change, demands immediate action.”
Dr Chang pointed out that the alarm of the unprecedented adverse climate impacts is increasingly threatening the sustainability and resilience of agri-food systems, in particular the smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups of the APEC region.
“Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, poses a significant threat to agriculture, necessitating a transformation towards climate-smart, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems,” she continued.
She stressed the importance of empowering smallholder, women and youth farmers, as well as Indigenous Peoples, and called for member economies to harness innovative technologies and traditional knowledge to ensure a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food system for all.
“It is our responsibility and capacity to strengthen our cooperation on developing innovative technologies and policies to address the challenges facing the agri-food sector and achieve our common goals,” she said.
Experts weighed in on innovations and best practices of low-carbon farming. Katina Hanson from the US Department of Agriculture explained that climate-smart agriculture and forestry is a comprehensive mitigation strategy that focuses on reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience to climate impacts as an approach to adaptation, all while sustainably boosting agricultural productivity and incomes.
“While mitigation addresses the causes of climate change, adaptation and resilience address the consequences of climate change,” Hanson said.
With a focus on net zero emissions in agriculture, Dr Jeng-Fang Huang from the Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture of Chinese Taipei said that robust strategies and technologies can contribute to the goal of net zero emissions.
"International collaboration and knowledge sharing are also essential to accelerate progress towards a carbon-neutral future, ensuring that efforts are coordinated and impactful on a global scale,” he added.
Aligned with APEC’s vision, members continue to work on key initiatives including digital transformation in agriculture, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable agriculture practices that can benefit agriculture as a whole.
Over the past year, the ATCWG has initiated seven projects specifically focused on digital transformation in agriculture, climate change adaptation and mitigation, reducing food loss and waste, and sustainable biomass management. These projects aim to empower smallholders, women and youth farmers, while fostering sustainable agriculture and rural development.
“The ATCWG has proven to be an exceptional platform for advancing agricultural technologies and facilitating trade and investment, contributing to economic growth and food security in the region,” said Dr Chang.
In closing, she urged member economies to propose innovative and inclusive projects to further enhance food security and safety. “It is our responsibility to strengthen cooperation and develop innovative technologies to address the challenges facing the agri-food sector.”
Agriculture, ocean and fisheries, and food security officials from APEC economies will concurrently meet in Trujillo, Peru on 17 August to take forward the discussion on food security. On 18 August, Peru will be hosting the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting where officials will steer policy towards a more sustainable and robust food trade in the region.
Bringing the Energy Transitions’ Benefit to People, Businesses
Issued by the 14th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting
“Peru sees the global energy transition as an opportunity begin its path to industrialization,” said Peru’s Minister of Energy and Mines Rómulo Mucho, adding that it will generate direct employment and greater value add, mainly in the most vulnerable areas.
“The energy transition can be achieved through various pathways by considering our local geography and industrial structure across the APEC economies,” Minister Mucho continued.
“Energy supply security is also directly related to the economy and social development. I am fully convinced that clean energy source must become the main component of our power supply.”
Minister Mucho underscored that the technological development gained from the energy transition will open more opportunities and allow Peru to participate in various economic activities such as energy storage and export, solar panels manufacturing, carbon dioxide capturing and direct removal, among others.
“These activities will encourage public-private partnerships, include domestic and foreign companies and engage the academia and civil society, making it a fair, inclusive and sustainable transition not only for Peru, but also for the region,” Minister Mucho said.
Julia Torreblanca, Chair of the 2024 APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), underscored the urgent climate crisis and the challenges facing the energy sector when she briefed the ministers about the council’s recommendations.
She highlighted the evolving trend in energy investment: from the estimated USD2.8 trillion figure that was invested in energy in 2023, over USD 1.7 trillion or almost 60 percent, was directed toward clean energy sources.
“The investment ratio has shifted dramatically: for every USD 1 spent on fossil fuels, USD 1.7 is now invested in clean energy, compared to a 1:1 ratio just five years ago,” Torreblanca said. “This shift is driven by improved economics, robust policy support and a strong alignment of climate and energy security goals.”
Given this shift, the business council suggested member economies to use this momentum to promote just, ambitious and realistic energy transitions, as well as consider eliminating inefficient subsidies to reduce carbon emissions, particularly from fossil fuels.
They recommended that ministers could also assess the establishment of a coherent greener trade framework that unlocks greater opportunities in sustainable supply chains, environmental goods and services, renewable energy, and clean technology.
“Further expanding the investments to decarbonize high-emitting and hard-to-abate industries, as well as tailoring this transition finance strategies to the specific needs of the APEC region are essential,” Torreblanca explained.
“Electric vehicles are becoming a crucial technology in the global energy transition. In 2023, electric cars represented about 18 percent of all cars sold, up from 14 percent in 2022 and just 2 percent in 2018,” Torreblanca added. “Developing international standards will streamline compliance and reduce costs. We must also remain coherent, powering those electric vehicles with predominantly clean energy sources.”
To support this growth, Torreblanca urged ministers to ensure fair trade conditions by eliminating tariffs, non-tariff barriers and other discriminatory policies that hinder the movement of goods and services related to the electric vehicles production.
For further details, please contact:
Masyitha Baziad +65 9751 2146 at mb@apec.org
Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org
APEC Energy Ministers Issue Joint Statement
Issued by the 14th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting
Energy ministers from the 21 APEC member economies issued a joint statement following the conclusion of the 14th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting chaired by Peru's Minister of Energy and Mines, Rómulo Mucho, in Lima, Peru on 15-16 August.
The statement highlighted ministers’ commitment to international cooperation as demands for secure, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy create the need to improve collaboration mechanisms that can help economies overcome challenges and strains across the entire energy ecosystem.
Ministers also recognized the crucial role energy plays in promoting the transition to the formal economy by all economic actors, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, women, Indigenous Peoples as appropriate, persons with disabilities, and those from remote and rural communities.
View the Lima Statement and the accompanying Chair’s statement.
View the APEC Policy Guidance to Develop and Implement Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy Frameworks in the Asia-Pacific
For further details, please contact:
Masyitha Baziad +65 9751 2146 at mb@apec.org
Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at mc@apec.org
