More than 100 experts and partners working in the agri-food sector gathered in a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) series on Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems in Southeast Asia recently.
The RTD series was jointly organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) with the objective of bringing together industry leaders, experts, and stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States (US).
During the event, the participants shared their experiences and insights in promoting digital technologies, carbon farming in agriculture, as well as climate-smart innovations in the food and agriculture sectors.
Enabling farmers to participate in digital economies
SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio and BSP Monetary Board Member Dr. V. Bruce Tolentino formally opened the hybrid two-day roundtable discussions held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) from April 18 to 19, 2023. The discussions were streamed live via Zoom and the official Facebook pages of both SEARCA and the BSP.
In his opening speech, Dr. Gregorio explained that enabling farmers to participate in digital economies and in organizing and accrediting carbon farming initiatives requires interdisciplinary and collaborative actions.
“SEARCA and the BSP have partnered in holding these roundtable discussions to bring together diverse perspectives and stakeholders to engage in open and constructive dialogue on advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability while encouraging regional cooperation in new initiatives that will connect farmers to digital economies and carbon markets,” Dr. Gregorio said.
For his part, Dr. Tolentino shared that the BSP has launched its own Sustainable Finance Roadmap and is pleased to have partnered with SEARCA in a shared endeavor toward sustainable development. He also emphasized the role of telecommunications in financial inclusion.
“The opening up of the telecommunications sector will enable a new era of financial inclusion. This will also benefit many communities that are often excluded, including small farmers and fisherfolks in the isolated areas of the archipelagic Philippines,” Dr. Tolentino said.
Creating sustainable solutions through collaboration
Representatives from the embassies of Canada, France, Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States also participated in the discussions and pledged their support for the initiative.
Mr. Nir Balzam, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, shared that some of Israel’s agricultural technologies are now being explored and used in Southeast Asia, which includes the Philippines. He also mentioned capacity-building programs and small grants for agriculture that are now being offered by his country.
“Through collaboration, we can create sustainable solutions for the challenges facing the food and agriculture sector today. On behalf of our mission, I’m renewing our commitment to support efforts that accelerate the digital transformation of the food and agriculture system in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. We will continue to collaborate and support SEARCA’s initiatives like today’s event,” Mr. Balzam said.
The RTD culminated with the unveiling of the Carbon Farming Consortium envisaged to foster regional cooperation and commitment to promoting carbon farming in agriculture in Southeast Asia.
SEARCA’s Dr. Gregorio and the BSP’s Dr. Tolentino led the signing ceremony as a declaration of their company’s commitment to supporting the consortium.
BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier concluded the event by issuing a call for strengthened regional cooperation and affirming the BSP’s shared desire to break the barriers to sustainable food and agriculture systems and accelerate efforts to promote inclusive, sustainable growth in the region.