Editors notes: The main agenda items in this critically important gathering of FAO member countries range from the state of food and agriculture across the Asia and Pacific region, to the rise of obesity in many countries, particularly in Oceania, alongside persistent hunger and the need to improve nutrition by investing in food systems that can deliver solutions. A special focus will be placed on climate change and extreme weather events, the impacts they are having on agriculture and food production in the region, and what can be done to adapt and mitigate the negative effects. Agriculture and fisheries issues affecting Small Island Developing States will also be discussed.

APRC-34 will bring together some 250 delegates including Government Ministers from countries across the Asia-Pacific region. From Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan in the west to the most populace countries and those with the largest economies of South, Southeast and East Asia and those representing the countries of Oceania. FAO Director-General, José Graziano DaSilva, will join the Conference and make a keynote speech on the 12^th April.

Hosted by the Government of Fiji, and set within the backdrop of achieving the world’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 on hunger and SDG 1 on poverty, APRC-34 will, inter-alia, examine the way forward to achieve a world free from hunger and with nutritious foods available for all, with Ministerial Roundtables on achieving Zero Hunger and another on Imagining Future Food Systems for a larger population and with limited natural resources.

Who: Delegations and Ministers from 46 Member Nations of Asia-Pacific and FAO Director-General

What: A three-day Senior Officials Meeting followed by two-day Ministerial Session

Where: Nadi, Fiji (Sofitel Resort and Spa) – Hosted by the Government of Fiji

When: 9 – 13 April, 2018

Why: To give direction to FAO on priority areas of work across the region (2018-2019)

Regional media are encouraged to cover APRC-34 and registration is open to representatives of all media organizations. An accreditation code is needed to register. To begin the process, and obtain a code, email requests should be sent to [email protected] 

More information on APRC-34 can be found at the link below, including further links to all Conference documents.  http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/aprc34/en/

For journalists unable to attend, FAO experts may be available to give interviews by Skype or email. Send requests to [email protected]