Officials from ten ministries and government agencies, together with representatives of the private sector and civil society, gathered today in Jakarta to discuss the challenges facing Indonesia in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. The national authorities in these sectors are preparing to attend the FAO’s 35th Asia Pacific Regional Conference (#APRC) in Bhutan in February, where several new regional initiatives will be promoted.

Asia and the Pacific region are changing rapidly because of economic growth, structural transformation, emerging technologies and urbanization. Growing urbanization is leading to fundamental changes in food systems and food environments affecting consumers’ food choices and how farmers connect with markets. In addition, Asia-Pacific is home to 479 million of the world’s undernourished, while overweight and obesity continue to rise among children and adults.

The FAO Regional Conference is traditionally a forum to address current and emerging regional trends and challenges. The 2020 event will be an opportunity to highlight examples of innovations that are improving food systems and benefitting family farmers across the region”, said Stephen Rudgard FAO Representative in Indonesia in the sidelines of the meeting.

The Government of Indonesia is planning to engage in FAO’s new “Hand in Hand” Initiative, focusing on enhancing the potential of disadvantaged areas and groups of population in line with UN’s commitment to “leave no one behind”. Hence, the Initiative targets the most vulnerable, and especially in poorer population groups, territories, and countries. It is evidence-based and relies on detailed analysis using multidimensional geo-spatial data and information.

“It is crucial for Indonesia to address the changes in these key production sectors arising from the structural transformation and urbanization in the country if it is to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”, added Stephen.

In addition to that, FAO will be highlighting innovation in the area of “Digital Agriculture”, which includes applications that are improving the rural economy and market accessibility for smallholder family farmers and fishers. Food and agriculture systems will need a “quantum leap” to achieve the SDG targets by 2030 and meet the food demand for more than 8 billion people, while safeguarding an already fragile environment.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Conference is held once every two years, and the 35th session will convene in Bhutan on 17 – 20 February. The Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Limpo is scheduled to attend and will lead the regional launch of UN Decade of Family Farming at the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (#APRC).