Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

NEWS STORIES

APEC strengthens PPP on food loss reduction in fishery, livestock
by Vladimir B. Caliguiran (September 27, 2015)
Member-economies of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) convened on September 27 at Iloilo City, Philippines to discuss the APEC Multi-Year Project (MYP) entitled “Strengthening Public-Private Partnership to Reduce Food Losses in the Supply Chain.”

The theme of MYP seminar focused on the fishery and livestock products and was hosted by the Council of Agriculture of Chinese Taipei in collaboration with the Philippine- Department of Agriculture and Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand.

About 80 delegates from both public and private sectors exchanged information on basic research, current trends, business models, and postharvest technologies in the fishery and livestock industry during the one-day seminar. Foreign delegates came from Chile, People’s Republic of China, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, The United States, and Vietnam.

According to Ms. Dong-Chong Hsiou, Deputy Director General- Department of International Affairs, Council of Agriculture of Chinese Taipei, “The seminar will generate more creative and innovative ideas and solutions…We will review the current status and future perspectives of reducing postharvest losses.”

“Seventy percent of the hungry populations are living in the Asia Pacific region…” Dr. Feng Dongxin, the Lead Shepherd of the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group said.

“Food loss and waste are growing concern of all economies which has to be addressed and given importance especially with the fact that according to studies, one-third of the total food production goes to food loss and waste...Because of the growing number of the global population and the significant figure of hunger incidence, there is a need to ensure sufficient supply of affordable, safe and good
quality food,” DA-PHilMech Executive Director Rex L. Bingabing emphasized.

The output of the seminar will be discussed and delivered to the APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy (HLPD-FSBE) and other fora.

Iloilo City is currently hosting the HLPD-FSBE also known as the Food Security Week from September 27 to October 6. The meetings are expected to have 900 delegates.