Working to support member countries in Asia and the Pacific, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is reviewing and intensifying implementation of four regional initiatives to boost food security, improve nutrition and reduce rural poverty across the region.

The initiatives – focusing on elimination of hunger (Zero Hunger), sustainable improvements to rice, aquaculture intensification and value chains of food systems – were endorsed by member countries at the FAO’s 32^nd Session of the Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in 2014. Since then, initial work has been underway in a number of focus countries to implement the initiatives.

A series of workshops in collaboration with representatives from these member countries began Monday in Bangkok to review the progress so far and map out future approaches. The participants will examine and discuss challenges and new opportunities. The review will result in revisions to work plans for this year and next.  

“Nearly two years on from their endorsement, the regional initiatives have gained traction in their respective countries and they are making considerable headway,” said Kundhavi Kadiresan, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative. “It’s now time to have a collective, critical review of the work done so far and adjust it as necessary as we prepare to intensify efforts going forward.”

The four regional initiatives are:

• Regional initiative on support to the Zero Hunger Challenge in Asia and the Pacific;
• Regional rice initiative (Phase2);
• Regional initiative on sustainable intensification of aquaculture for blue growth in Asia and the Pacific;
• Regional initiative on value chains for food security and nutrition in the Pacific Islands

Since initial implementation, work has been underway in 12 Asia-Pacific countries.

“Our member countries have shown great enthusiasm in collaborating with FAO in implementing these regional initiatives so far,” said Xiangjun Yao, FAO’s Regional Initiative Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific. “Clearly the movement toward zero hunger, improvements to sustainable intensification in productions of rice and aquaculture – a staple in the diets of so many people in this region – and improvements to value chains in the Pacific is in the interests of us all.”