Forty-Six FAO Member Nations in Asia and the Pacific to
chart a course for securing food systems and mitigating the effects of COVID-19
and climate change on agricultural sectors

The arrival of the
novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has had a great impact on agriculture and food
systems in Asia and the Pacific, a region already beset by climate and weather
related challenges, such as droughts and flooding.

Supply chains have
been disrupted, demand has dropped for certain foods, resulting in damage to
nutrition, health and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people in this,
the world’s most populous region.   

In response, 46
Member Nations, along with private sector and civil society organizations, will
discuss a way forward during the 35th Session of
the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC35)
in virtual mode, from 1 – 4 September 2020.

The Royal
Government of Bhutan is hosting and chairing the biennial event.

The stakes are high

While some parts of
East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific have experienced, relatively, less of
an impact, the COVID-19 contagion continues to ravage many countries in the
region. In addition to the threats on life, the impact of lockdowns and
restricted movements have devastated the livelihoods of millions, increased
acute hunger and set back progress toward achieving the world’s Sustainable
Development Goals, particularly SDG-1 and SDG-2 (ending poverty and ending
malnutrition).

More than ever,
innovation and increased use of existing and new technology will be needed to
respond to the risks and challenges to food systems posed by the spread of the
coronavirus and the need to better manage natural resources sustainably in the
face of climate change. A new approach to partnerships will also be required.

Media welcome

While participation
in this FAO Regional Governing Body Session is by invitation only, representatives of news organizations are welcome to
follow the proceedings live via Webcast and all conference
documents are available online at the APRC-35 Website

Further information
can be obtained directly by contacting the Conference Information Officer,
Allan Dow, at allan.dow@fao.org #APRC35
@FAOAsiaPacific www.fao.org/asiapacific

 http://www.fao.org/asiapacific/news/detail-events/en/c/1303814/