A February 7, 2012 press release from the Department of Agriculture
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member-economies account for half of the world grain production, major exporters, and importers of agricultural products. APEC can therefore be an influencing force to push forward the increase of food availability by raising agricultural productivity, trade and investment facilitation and market expansion.
This was the statement of Secretary of Agriculture Proceso Alcala at the APEC Symposium on Climate Change with the theme “Adaptation Strategies with Mitigation Potential for Food and Water Security” at EDSA Shangrila Hotel last Monday.
Alcala said that since most of the members are situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 75 percent of the world’s volcanoes are found and 90 percent of the world’s earthquake occur, the region experiences 70 percent of the world’s natural disasters that can disrupt food supply and livelihoods, displace people and reduce access to food.
He said that it is worth recognizing the collective efforts of APEC to improve emergency preparedness and disaster risk reduction in response to disasters affecting agriculture.
The three-day forum is attended by 14 member economies. It will map out climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, provide appropriate financing mechanisms, and implement what needs to be done to sustain the productivity of the land, water and marine resources to fee the region’s ever-increasing population.
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