Joint Statement on the APEC 2025 Food Security Ministerial Meeting Incheon

Joint Statement on the APEC 2025 Food Security Ministerial Meeting
Incheon, 10 August 2025

1. We, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers responsible for food security, attended the 10th APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting held in Incheon, Republic of Korea on 10th August 2025, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Song Mi Ryung. We welcomed the participation of representatives from the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

2. We reaffirm our commitment to the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, which envisions an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040 for the prosperity of all our people and future generations. We remain dedicated to the implementation of the Aotearoa Plan of Action and note the Bangkok Goals and the APEC Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 to this end. In this regard, we also note the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Machu Picchu Declaration which held that all our people should enjoy the benefits of inclusive economic growth, by maximizing opportunities for all. Recognizing the voluntary and non-binding nature of initiatives outlined above, we value their flexibility in supporting our shared goal of achieving regional food security.

3. Under the APEC 2025 theme of “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” we held in-depth discussions on “Driving Innovation in Agri-food Systems for Shared Prosperity.” We aspire to see a more connected, innovative, and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. We remain committed to promoting cooperation among APEC member economies and fostering solidarity to strengthen food security through productive, sustainable, resilient and innovative agri-food systems for the prosperity of all our people and future generations.

4. In the face of complex challenges, food security remains a significant issue with localized areas of acute hunger. Environmental challenges including extreme weather events and natural disasters continue to undermine food supply chains, in particular for small-scale producers. Persistent labor supply challenges, including demographic shifts such as aging populations, rural depopulation linked to urbanization, and difficulties in attracting and retaining workers, raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of our food production base. In addition, supply chain disruptions negatively affecting the movement of agricultural goods and inputs reduce food accessibility and availability. Consequently, these challenges can exacerbate surging food prices and heighten risks of food insecurity and malnutrition. In response to these concerns, APEC economies recognize the importance of promoting more sustainable and resilient food systems through the efficient use of agricultural resources, and implementing of policies and approaches that support sustainable agricultural productivity growth.

5. We recognize that innovation in food systems is key to unlocking a new future. As previously acknowledged, increasingly complex and interrelated challenges require innovative approaches. Advanced technologies, policy tools and practices can enhance efficiency, boost productivity and improve resilience across the production, manufacturing, distribution and consumption of agri-food products. We highlight the role of innovation in ensuring food security particularly in: strengthening resilience and sustainability of supply chains, while delivering economic prosperity for all and supporting the revitalization of rural areas. We will promote agricultural innovation of member economies including by encouraging the sharing of knowledge on advanced technologies in agriculture on voluntary and mutually agreed terms. In this regard, the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights to support innovation is one of the essential components. The use of production and voluntary technology licensing strengthens innovation ecosystems by linking research institutions and private enterprises with farmers.

6. Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to strengthening the resilience of agri-food systems, we pursue diverse and timely responses to food crises. Such responses may include  the establishment and operation of domestic food security strategies, early warning mechanisms and cooperation to streamline international, regional and local supply routes and production systems. Science-based approaches and risk assessment in line with WTO obligations and international standards play a critical role in supporting these efforts. We encourage member economies to design policies aimed at preventing and reducing food loss and waste as stated in the Trujillo Principles for Preventing and Reducing Food Loss and Waste in the Asia-Pacific Region, and to voluntarily promote investment and projects toward this goal, where appropriate. We also highlight the key role of building capacity for strengthening food security across the Asia-Pacific region, by further sharing agri-food data, as appropriate, among member economies on a voluntary basis.

7. We reaffirm our commitment to enhancing the resilience and sustainability of food supply chains through the adoption of digital technologies that are advanced, affordable and practical. These include, among others, artificial intelligence, big data, certifications including e-Certificates, the Internet of Things, blockchain, automated guidance, remote sensing. To ensure that such innovation benefits all, we encourage economies to promote the inclusive, accessible and culturally appropriate use of these technologies. Building on these efforts, we call on members to enhance their initiatives to improve agricultural production and profitability via the dissemination of precision farming, the adoption of automation technologies, the development of new generation smart farming systems and other innovative techniques along with sustained investment in research and development (R&D). Through these actions, we seek to drive innovation across the agri-food value chains to allow affordable agricultural products to more effectively reach consumers, while also contributing to the prevention and reduction of food loss and waste.

8. We note the importance of strengthening everyone’s capacity to participate meaningfully in the food systems, across all levels of decision-making. To this end, we will work together to address structural barriers to achieve food security and nutrition. In particular, we are encouraged to bridge the digital divides by helping people adapt to rapid technological changes and develop the skills needed to drive innovation. Noting the nutritional disparities among individuals, populations and economies, we reaffirm our commitment to designing policies and approaches that ensure access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food for all and to promoting investment to this end, as appropriate.

9. We acknowledge the essential role of rural revitalization and improved connectivity in remote areas in achieving food security and promoting sustainable agri-food systems. We encourage efforts aimed at rural revitalization, such as the conservation of rural environments, improvement of rural livelihoods, recognition of relevant, local, traditional and Indigenous knowledge, as appropriate, and expansion of access to essential public services, digital technologies and infrastructure among others. Such efforts are expected to help reduce the decline of rural areas, address workforce issues, create opportunities for younger generations and secure new engines of growth, thereby contributing to food security, sustainable economic development and rural prosperity across the APEC region.

10. We recognize the critical role that trade can play in achieving food security, minimizing supply chain disruptions, and promoting open, fair, transparent, productive, sustainable, resilient and innovative agri-food systems that benefit all. We also recognize the need for a constructive engagement on agriculture at the WTO.

11. As this year marks the mid-term review of its Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030, we discussed the progress of the implementation and ways forward. APEC member economies assessed the progress made and exchanged best practices, reaffirming our commitment to achieving food security. We remain steadfast in our efforts to take concrete actions to strengthen food security within the region.

12. We reaffirm the importance of engaging the private sector and promoting public-private partnerships in enhancing food security in the region. We also recognize the role of various APEC fora and working groups—such as the Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS), the Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG), the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG), the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) and others—in facilitating collaboration on food security issues. In this context, we emphasize the need to foster consistent relationships between private sector initiatives and public-sector efforts, including through collaborative projects, technical cooperation, best practice sharing and capacity building. We welcome the PPFS’s efforts to increase private sector engagement.

13. We thank the Republic of Korea for hosting a successful 2025 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security and for its cordial hospitality. We also look forward to the People's Republic of China hosting the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security.