BANGKOK, November 18. /TASS/. Economic ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries and territories have noted the importance of ensuring the reduction of food loss, as well as long-term food security, according to a joint statement released after the ministerial meeting of APEC in the Thai capital of Bangkok on Friday.
"We welcome the Implementation Plan of the Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030, endorsed at the Seventh APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting, for the long-term food security, food safety and improved nutrition for all," the statement reads.
Ministers also stressed the importance of the reduction of food loss and waste in the region by sustainably and innovatively transforming food systems. "We are committed to making food supply chains more resilient against disruptions. We encourage the use of STI in the agri-food sector, and will support smallholders, especially those in rural areas, to prepare for this change by equipping them with the knowledge and skills that they need, including digital technologies, while continuing to promote their access to regional and global markets," the document says.
APEC comprises 19 countries and two territories. This includes its 12 founding members: Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, USA, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea and Japan. Other participants include China (entered in 1991), Mexico and Papua New Guinea (1993), Chile (1994), Russia, Vietnam and Peru (1998). In 1991, two Chinese territories, Hong Kong and Taiwan, joined APEC.