On 19 March 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026 under the theme “Feeding the Future, Sustaining the Planet” in Manila, the Philippines, organized by the Asian Development Bank(ADB) . The forum aimed to promote food security policies, review ADB’s related initiatives, and support long-term food systems transformation.

On this occasion, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS manager, was invited to present AFSIS operations and participated as a speaker in Session 8.1 titled “Risk, Resilience, and Institutional Readiness for Food Security: The ASEAN Plus Three Rice Emergency Reserve (APTERR) Experience.”She exchanged insights with experts from various sectors on lessons learned from regional food security mechanisms, particularly the roles of AFSIS and the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve.

Key points highlighted included AFSIS data collection methodologies, data management, and analytical approaches; the application of AFSIS data in supporting food security decision-making among ASEAN Member States, progress toward establishing AFSIS as a permanent mechanism, and its linkage with the Food Emergency Monitoring and Information (FEMI) in supporting APTERR operations.

Furthermore, the forum discussed the potential of multi-stakeholder collaboration among AFSIS, APTERR, FAO-The Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in developing integrated data systems, including early warning systems, monitoring and forecasting, and data-sharing mechanisms to support evidence-based policymaking, as well as joint capacity-building initiatives.

The forum enhanced understanding of regional food emergency mechanisms, reaffirmed the importance of APTERR in strengthening food systems resilience, and identified future collaboration pathways among ADB, ASEAN, and international partners. The AFSIS Secretariat will apply the knowledge gained to further strengthen its operations, enhance regional cooperation, and improve food security information systems across ASEAN Member States.