ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Promoting
Sustainable Agriculture
WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), namely Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, gathered in Lao PDR on 9 October 2024 on the occasion of the 44 ASEAN Summits.
ACKNOWLEDGING that sustainable agriculture entails sustainable practices to maximise productivity and efficiency while minimising negative environmental impacts. It involves a holistic approach that integrates social, economic, and environmental dimensions to ensure the well-being of farmers, consumers, and the ecosystem;
SUPPORTING the crucial role of agriculture in our region's development and its contribution to achieving sustainable economic growth, poverty eradication, food security, and environmental sustainability;
EMPHASISING the immense significance of agriculture in the ASEAN Member States (AMS) and its linkages to global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resource depletion and social inequality, and the urgent need to accelerate regional efforts towards sustainable agricultural practices;
ADOPTING appropriate technologies, best practices, research advancements, and training services that enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability;
NOTING that AMS have agreed to support the sustainable agriculture by encouraging relevant stakeholders, including the private sector to work with the ASEAN Secretariat to spearhead meaningful projects and programmes that could be included in the Action Plan for Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN.
DO HEREBY DECLARE our commitment as follows:
1. COMMEND the Action Plan for Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN, which outlines a comprehensive framework for promoting sustainable agricultural practices among AMS. This Action Plan will serve as a guiding document to enhance cooperation, coordination, complementation and knowledge sharing on sustainable agricultural development in the ASEAN region.
2. ENCOURAGE all dialogue partners, international organizations, concerned private sector, and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the ASEAN Secretariat and AMS in developing and implementing projects and programmes that support sustainable agriculture in the region.
3. STRIVE for sustainable agriculture through the adoption of appropriate farming technologies and sustainable natural resources management practices, including support for research and development, innovation, digital transformation, and empowering farmers with knowledge and tools.
4. STRENGTHEN sustainable value chains to empower smallholder farmers and ensure their fair and equitable participation by promoting market linkages and access to finance, infrastructure, and technologies to increase their income through enhancing productivity and market competitiveness. Strive for the sustainability and resilience of the logistic network, storage and distribution in supply chain of agricultural products.
5. STRENGTHEN cooperation to support the development and application of science and technology, new technologies such as AI and hydrogen for green transition in agriculture, especially in developing smart and low emission agriculture.
6. ENHANCE the safety, quality, and nutritional value of agricultural products by adhering to food safety standards, promoting good agricultural practices, encouraging the consumption of diverse, nutritious, and locally produced foods, and strengthening collaboration among relevant agencies and stakeholders to effectively address challenges on food safety.
7. CONSERVE biodiversity and improve ecosystem services by integrating conservation and restoration of natural resources to promote sustainable use and management.
8. PROMOTE climate-resilient farming practices that enhance adaptive capacity, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; and encourage AMS to utilise advanced low carbon technologies, share best practices in greenhouse gas emissions reduction in agriculture, promote research and provide technical support to improve resiliency in the context of climate change.
9. PROMOTE regenerative agriculture towards fostering sustainable farming practices that enhance soil health, improve water management, and preserve biodiversity, ensuring a healthier and more resilient environment for future generations in collaboration with the private sector.
10.STRENGTHEN regional and sub-regional cooperation and partnerships to exchange best practices, knowledge, and technologies in sustainable agriculture by leveraging existing ASEAN mechanisms and fostering collaboration among AMS.
11.STRENGTHEN the role of farmers and other concerned stakeholders in decision-making and implementation of sustainable agriculture initiatives.
12.ENHANCE collaboration with the private sector, and international organizations such as the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) to promote public-private partnerships and provide technical knowledge and capacity building towards sustainable agri-food systems.
13.ENCOURAGE AMS to align their agricultural policies, strategies, and investments with the principles and actions outlined in this Declaration, including the integration of sustainable agriculture to their national development plans and the allocation of adequate resources for its implementation.
We reaffirm our commitment to promote sustainable agriculture as a fundamental driver of regional development. By embracing sustainable agricultural practices, we can achieve shared prosperity, eradicate poverty, ensure food security, and preserve safe environment for the benefit of present and future generations in ASEAN.
We task the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) to cooperate with other relevant ASEAN Ministers to take coordinated actions to implement this Declaration.
Adopted on this Ninth Day of October in the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Four in a single original copy in the English Language.
