Bangkok, Thailand, FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), today re-affirmed their close collaboration on technical cooperation work in the region during an annual review of the programme.

The annual review process was “a very valuable occasion that will lead to the strengthening of the FAO-MAFF partnership,” said Daiji Kawaguchi, Deputy Director of the International Organizations Division, within the Minister’s Secretariat at MAFF.

During the review of the MAFF-funded projects, the discussions focused on current projects ranging from support to ASEAN countries on international food safety standards – and the development of more effective and inclusive food value chains – to improving systems of inspections of seeds crossing borders so they can be certified free of pests, as well as combating climate change through healthy soil management.