Philippines Seeks Stronger ASEAN-India Partnership to Safeguard Regional Food Security
MANILA — The Philippines is pushing for stronger cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India to strengthen regional food security and prepare for disruptions affecting agricultural supply chains, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who also serves as the 2026 ASEAN Chairperson for Agriculture and Forestry, led the Philippine delegation to the 9th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry held Wednesday in New Delhi, India.
Tiu Laurel said food security risks can no longer be treated as purely domestic concerns as geopolitical tensions, climate-related disasters and volatility in energy, transportation, food and agricultural input markets increasingly affect countries across borders.
“Geopolitical and economic uncertainties, climate-related tragedies, and volatility in energy, transport, food and agricultural input markets continue to test the resilience of our food systems and supply chains,” he said.
He noted that disruptions to trade, transport, energy and agricultural inputs can quickly spread across economies, affecting both farmers and consumers.
“These challenges reinforce the very importance of practical regional cooperation, open communication and sustained partnerships,” Tiu Laurel said.
The Agriculture chief also underscored the importance of strengthening the Philippines' cooperation with India, particularly in areas where the country has significant expertise, including agriculture, food systems, research, technology and capacity development.
He said closer ASEAN-India coordination could help countries improve preparedness before global disruptions escalate into major supply crises.
“I am confident that today’s discussions will further strengthen the ASEAN-India partnership and translate our shared priorities into concrete and mutually beneficial cooperation,” Tiu Laurel said.
“As we move into the next phase of ASEAN-India cooperation, we look forward to practical, results-oriented activities that contribute to food security, sustainability, resilience, innovation, knowledge exchange and the well-being of our agricultural communities.”
During the meeting, participating countries reviewed the ASEAN-India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Cooperation in Agriculture and Forestry for 2021–2025 and discussed the succeeding five-year cooperation plan covering 2026–2030.
The ministers also took up outcomes from the 47th ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting in 2025, as well as the special AMAF meeting held in April 2026 concerning the situation in the Middle East.
For the Philippines, discussions also covered the potential impact of extreme weather events, geopolitical disruptions, and fluctuations in the price and availability of fuel, fertilizer, animal feed and other agricultural inputs.
The Philippines said strengthened regional partnerships and coordinated responses will be critical in building more resilient food systems amid increasingly complex global risks.
NPO NEWS TEAM | PNA-PR
