by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
During the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy held in Iloilo, food security, fishery leaders and policy makers from Asia Pacific economies have formally adopted the Iloilo Plan of Action.
APEC leaders endorsed the plan of action as a product of dialogue process for disucssion and involved smallholders including marginal and sub-marginal farmers and entrepreneurs.
The Iloilo Plan of action on food security and the blue economy consists of three implementable pillars. They are:
- Blue economy towards sustainable food supply chains for food security
- Fish loss reduction for increased fish production and
- Agribusiness development for food security and inclusive growth
Philippine Secretary of Agriculture, Proceso Alcala, said the plan of action will “operationalise and help realise the intent and goals of all of numerous APEC declaration on food security and the blue economy, including the Xiamen Declaration (2014) and Bali (2013)”.
The endorsed plan of action strongly promotes climate resiliency and inclusive growth and will be used as a tool to promote fishery and food growth in the Pacific region.
