FAO Regional Conference features a special meeting to support Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Land-Locked Developing Countries

QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), welcomed ministers from around Asia and the Pacific to a special meeting here today to discuss the “distinct and persistent structural vulnerabilities” faced by countries in the region that are particularly cut off from mainstream pathways to agricultural development and resilient food security. These countries are especially exposed to mounting pressures in a context of increasing climate variability, supply chain disruptions and shifting trade dynamics.

Despite the challenges, “there is strong reason for optimism,” the Director-General told participants in a special ministerial event on “Accelerating agrifood system transformation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).”

The special event, held during the week-long 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific hosted by Brunei Darussalam, aimed to stimulate sharing of perspectives and ideas on how such countries can achieve their goals through policy measures, financing mechanisms, innovations and innovations. The discussions also provided strategic guidance to FAO on priority areas for support, including analytics, capacity development, investment planning and partnerships.

“Across Asia and the Pacific, countries are advancing innovative approaches to transform agrifood systems, leveraging digital technologies, strengthening climate resilience, promoting inclusive rural development, and mobilizing investment through enhanced partnerships,” Qu added.

While the focus countries face distinct challenges, they have several characteristics in common: geographic isolation, high transportation costs, climate exposure, environmental fragility, limited fiscal space and high dependence on food imports, all of which are exacerbated by current global trends.

National initiatives embedded in a context of collective action and knowledge sharing can lead to impactful results, Qu said. “Across Asia and the Pacific, countries are advancing innovative approaches to transform agrifood systems, leveraging digital technologies, strengthening climate resilience, promoting inclusive rural development, and mobilizing investment through enhanced partnerships,” the Director-General added.

Exchanging ideas that work

Two ministerial panels were held during the event, one focusing on agrifood systems transformation and the other on how finance and partnerships can help deliver impactful results at scale.

Ministers from Bhutan, Laos, Papua New Guinea and Tonga shared insights into their national practices and priorities, focusing respectively on sustainability, policy and governance, the livestock sector, and coping with climate and economic shocks.

Senior officials from Cambodia, Mongolia and Tuvalu centered their contributions on funding and strategic partnerships, respectively focusing on how to strengthen agrifood value chains and market linkages, how to bolster investment readiness, and opportunities linked to building climate resilience.

Several presentations noted the utility and role of FAO initiatives such as Hand-in-Hand, One Country One Priority Product, Blue Transformation and Digital Villages, all of which are particularly popular and engaged with around Asia and the Pacific, as well as the Pacific SIDS Investment Proposal, which aims to translate country-led priorities into bankable opportunities and will be showcased at the 2026 SIDS Solution Forum in the Solomon Islands next month.

The debate offered precious insights into local priorities and conditions, Qu noted.

Those help FAO draft the next five-year Multi-Country Programming Framework for the Pacific Islands, which covers fourteen countries. Ministers also discussed a FAO proposal to set up an informal ministerial network focused specifically on Land-Locked Developing Countries in the region: Afghanistan, Bhutan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mongolia, and Nepal.

There are nine LDCs in Asia and the Pacific, 17 SIDS and four LLDCs.