Over the next three days, delegates will lay the technical and policy groundwork for ministerial-level discussions later this week, tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing agrifood systems in one of the world’s most populous and diverse regions.

The stakes are high. Asia and the Pacific is home to around 285 million undernourished people—accounting for 42 per cent of the global total—even as some countries report gradual improvements in hunger reduction. At the same time, nearly one billion people in the region remain food insecure, while more than 1.2 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Experts also warn of a worsening “triple burden” of malnutrition, combining undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and rising obesity rates.

These challenges are being intensified by a series of overlapping global shocks. Geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt fertiliser and energy markets, while climate change is driving more frequent droughts, floods and extreme weather events. Land and water degradation, along with increasingly unstable trade and supply chains, are adding further strain to already fragile food systems.

Opening the meeting, Alue Dohong, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, called for urgent and coordinated regional action.

“We meet at a critical juncture,” he said. “The converging crises facing our region—from geopolitical disruptions to climate shocks—demand that we act with urgency to reshape agrifood systems that are efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.”

He stressed that the conference presents a crucial opportunity to align policies and long-term investment strategies aimed at ending hunger and improving livelihoods across the region.

Mr Dohong also urged countries to strengthen South-South and triangular cooperation, and to build stronger partnerships with international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector. He emphasised that investment must prioritise smallholder and family farmers, who remain central to food production yet often lack adequate support.

The Senior Officers’ Meeting will focus on a wide-ranging agenda, including improving access to affordable and nutritious diets, promoting low-carbon and sustainable agriculture, enhancing efficiency and inclusion across agrifood systems, and strengthening trade and market integration—particularly for countries transitioning from least developed country status. Mobilising both domestic and international financing for food system transformation will also be a key priority.

Attention will then shift on Wednesday to the World Food Forum – Asia Pacific, which will bring together governments, youth representatives, scientists and investors to explore innovation and investment for agrifood transformation. A special ministerial event will also be held for Small Island Developing States, Landlocked Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries.

The high-level Ministerial Session begins on Thursday, officially opened by the Crown Prince of Brunei, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.

Discussions will continue on Friday, with ministers focusing on innovation for food security, transboundary animal diseases, investment pathways for agrifood systems, the Blue Transformation in aquatic food systems, and accelerating bioeconomy approaches.

Hosted by the Government of Brunei Darussalam, APRC38 serves as a key governing body meeting for FAO member nations in Asia and the Pacific, held once every two years to shape the region’s food and agriculture agenda.

KPL