Sri Lanka to attend 36th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific

COLOMBO (News 1st); A high-level delegation from Sri Lanka is expected to join government Ministers and officials from 46 Asia-Pacific countries next month (8 – 11 March) to address the damage done to economies and livelihoods in the food and agriculture sectors, by the global pandemic, animal and crop diseases, and the ongoing disruption caused by the climate crisis.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in a statement on Wednesday (23) said that advancing the application of innovation, science, and digitalization to help an agri-food systems transformation in the world’s biggest and hungriest region is among the main points for consideration.

The 36th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC36), convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will be hosted by the Government of Bangladesh, in the capital Dhaka.

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, will welcome delegates to the Conference, which is convened in the Hybrid modality.

The Sri Lankan delegation set to participate at the APRC includes Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Minister of Agriculture, and Gamini Samarasinghe, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.

While a significant focus of #APRC36 deliberations will be on COVID-19 recovery efforts, the Ministers and Officials attending #APRC36 will also consider responses to both emerging and ongoing issues.

On the table for discussion will be future responses to longstanding threats to livestock such as Avian Influenza, African swine fever, and weakened immune responses caused by inappropriate and overuse of antimicrobials in animal production.

Ways and means to mitigate reoccurring threats to plants and crops, such as Locusts and Fall Armyworm will also be examined. Ecosystem responses in the Pacific Islands is another top priority.

Implementing the new FAO strategy on dealing with climate change as well as opportunities that are emerging from applications of innovation, science, and digitalization in the food and agriculture sectors to provide solutions will form a major part of the discussions.

Ultimately, the goal will be to reach a consensus that balances the needs of people, domestic animals, wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystems through One Health approach. An in-depth explanation of all of these topics is available here and more information about the #APRC36 can be found on the Conference Website homepage.

The aim of the Conference is to build back better, with Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for all – leaving no one behind.

The 46 Member Nations in Asia and the Pacific, as FAO’s regional Governing Body, will set in motion a two-year course of work for the