The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently announced an agreement on the establishment of a food security reserve. The reserve aims to ensure that ASEAN member states have access to sufficient food supplies during times of crisis, such as natural disasters, price spikes, or emergencies caused by conflicts.
The ASEAN food security reserve will be established under the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) agreement, which was signed in 2012. The APTERR is a regional food security reserve that aims to ensure the stability of rice prices and supplies in the ASEAN Plus Three countries – ASEAN member states, China, Japan, and South Korea.
The new agreement will extend the scope of the APTERR to include other staple crops, such as maize, wheat, and soybeans. The reserve will be established with the support of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Council, which is composed of representatives from each member state and the APTERR Secretariat.
The establishment of the ASEAN food security reserve is an important step towards achieving food security in the region. Food security is defined as the availability, accessibility, and affordability of sufficient quantities of food to meet the dietary needs of the population. Achieving food security is a key goal for ASEAN member states, as many of them are heavily reliant on food imports and vulnerable to food price shocks.
The establishment of the ASEAN food security reserve will help to reduce this vulnerability by ensuring that member states have access to sufficient food supplies during times of crisis. By pooling resources and sharing information, the reserve will be able to respond quickly and effectively to any food security challenges that arise.
The ASEAN food security reserve is also an important step towards achieving the United Nation`s Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030. The goal aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The establishment of the food security reserve will help ASEAN member states to achieve this goal by ensuring that they have access to sufficient supplies of food to meet the needs of their populations.
In conclusion, the establishment of the ASEAN food security reserve is an important development for the region. It will help to ensure that ASEAN member states have access to sufficient food supplies during times of crisis, reduce their vulnerability to food price shocks, and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 of Zero Hunger by 2030.