Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, together with Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) and the Ministry of Agriculture, held a workshop on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems under the framework of the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) in Jakarta on April 23–24.
This workshop was held in line with the region’s commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture and food systems to contribute to future prosperity, stability, and resilience.
Government officials, industry representatives, leaders in the agricultural sector, and research institutions from across the region gathered to explore ways to achieve sustainable agriculture and food systems while minimizing the negative trade impacts of sustainability measures.
Australia’s Special Representative for Agriculture, Su McClusky, stated, “Sustainable agriculture and food systems play a vital role in preserving the environment and natural resources, while continuing to meet the food and nutritional needs of a growing global population,” she said in an official statement on Thursday (April 24, 2025).
The workshop highlighted common challenges faced by countries in the region in their efforts to increase agricultural productivity, while also managing and adapting to the impacts of climate change and other environmental pressures.
Su McClusky emphasized that although the challenges may be similar, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to address these critical and complex issues. Solutions must be evidence-based and reflect the climate, environment, and production systems specific to each country.
The workshop successfully fostered greater cooperation among AANZFTA member countries on this important and evolving issue.
