January 28, 2024, Apia – Samoa is sending a high-level delegation to a major international conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a multilateral effort to reform agrifood systems across the Asia-Pacific region after years of pandemics, climate emergencies, volatile markets, and economies that have affected millions of producers and consumers.
The Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC37) is convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka.
“This is a good opportunity for our nation, as it enables us to engage in discussions on global platforms regarding the reform of the agrifood system and address national priorities,” stated Hon. La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Samoa.
Hon. La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, will lead the delegation, which will also include Hon. Faleomavaega Titimaea Tafua, Associate Minister for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Dr. Seuseu Tauati, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Mr. Tolusina Pouli, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Forestry Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The FAO representation in Samoa is providing technical support to the delegation.
“FAO is supporting the Samoa delegation and others from across the Pacific, ensuring that the crucial priorities for agricultural transformation take centre stage on the global platform. Through dedicated support, FAO is amplifying the voices and priorities that will shape and drive positive change in the agrifood systems’ landscape.,” said Xiangjun Yao, FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands. “This country’s high-level participation in this important conference will help guide FAO’s work here in Samoa and right across the Asia and Pacific region, as all FAO Member Nations share a common goal of achieving the SDGs by 2030 through transforming their domestic agrifood systems,” she added.
There are 46 FAO member nations in Asia and the Pacific. Hundreds of high-level participants are registering for a senior official’s meeting (from January 31 to February 2 – virtually), and a ministerial session from February 19 to February 22 (in-person). The FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu, is expected to travel from FAO headquarters in Rome to participate in the Ministerial Session.
Not just another meeting
Most of the issues to be discussed are of vital interest to Samoa, with a “Special Ministerial Meeting for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)” on the agenda. Other ministerial roundtable discussions will cover securing future food and nutrition, lessons learned from convergent crises, saving water and food and reducing loss and waste, investment and financing for poverty reduction, and modernization—all of which have a common interest across the region.
Building resilience will be a key topic. A special ministerial event will focus on a number of thematic areas, such as championing modernization and digitalization for smallholders in aquaculture and livestock and an overall transformation of agrifood systems in countries across the vast region.
For Samoa, key priority areas are food security, sustainable agriculture, rural transformation and commercial development.
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For further information about the #APRC37, contact:
Allan Dow, FAO Conference Information Officer
Or Ehsan Kabir, International Communication Specialist, FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands
