The Food Security Week and High-level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change will be held in Can Tho city from August 18 to 25 as part of the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Year in Viet Nam. — Photo baocongthuong.vn

The Food Security Week and High-level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change will be held in Can Tho city from August 18 to 25 as part of the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Year in Viet Nam.

Nearly 1,500 delegates from APEC member economies, international organisations, research institutions, senior officials, policy makers, and businesses will participate in the events, which will be chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Food Security Week will have many main events like a dialogue on food security and sustainable agriculture, a conference of ministers and CEOs on the responsible use of resources to enhance sustainable food production and agri-business.

Other key events include the annual meetings held by APEC working groups like the Policy Partnership on Food Security, Ocean and Fisheries Working Group, the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural Technical Co-operation Working Group, a general meeting of the four groups, an APEC forum on agricultural start-ups and innovation, and an exhibition featuring safe farm produce and new agricultural technologies.

Technical seminars and a field trip to discover major agricultural items in Can Tho and the rest of the Mekong Delta, such as rice, seafood and fruits will also be held.

At the end of the Food Security Week, three important documents are expected to be passed: the Action Plan for the APEC programme on Food Security and Climate Change; Action Plan for the APEC Strategic Framework on rural-urban development to strengthen food security and quality growth; and Can Tho Declaration on enhancing food security and sustainable agricultural development in response to climate change.

The event is expected to help achieve APEC’s priorities and enhance the role and status of Viet Nam in APEC.

It is also an opportunity for the Vietnamese agricultural sector to introduce itself to other APEC member economies as well as other markets.

Food production has made great strides, improving food security and making many countries self-sufficient in food.

However, ensuring food security, nutrition security and poverty reduction remain challenges, especially in developing countries. —VNS