APEC to hold Ministerial Meeting on Food Security

[ArielValloso]

Officials next meet in Sapporo in May.

Food issues have been included in APEC priorities and activities for some time but, today, are more important than ever:

Two-thirds of the undernourished population in the world resides in the Asia-Pacific region and more than one third of them in APEC economies; APEC membership includes major players in international agricultural trade, both in exports and imports; Increased food demand attributed to population growth and changes in dietary patterns in the region could bring about instability in the balance of food supply and demand;

The extent of interdependence for food is increasing in the Asia-Pacific region due to expanded agricultural trade;

Some APEC economies have already experienced social instability - such as food protests and riots - during the food price spike in 2007 - 2008; and

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis that can affect food supply occur frequently in the Asia-Pacific region.

The first APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security will be held on 16-17 October in Niigata, Japan. An APEC Action Plan on Food Security will be developed during the meeting.



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