On 22–23 October 2025, the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan, successfully convened The AFSIS Special Workshop in Tokyo, Japan.
The meeting includes the representatives from the 10 ASEAN Member States and the Plus Three countries People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, and Japan participated in the Workshop. In addition, representatives from relevant organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO) the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) also attended the event.
The main objectives of the Workshop were to present the achievements of the Strengthening ASEAN Food Security Information System Function for Emergency (SAFER) Project, introduce the implementation plan of the AFSIS-GIS Project (2025–2028) supported by MAFF Japan, and discuss strategies to strengthen AFSIS’s operational and financial sustainability. The Workshop also served as a platform for participants to deliberate on possible future cooperation frameworks and approaches to enhance AFSIS’s long-term stability.
On this occasion, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, delivered the welcome remarks and presented the recent progress of AFSIS activities, the 2025 work plan, and the proposed directions to ensure the organization’s sustainability in the future.
Furthermore, the Workshop provided an opportunity for representatives from ASEAN and Plus Three countries to exchange views on the financial mechanisms and sustainability of AFSIS, considering the needs of each member country and potential approaches to broaden AFSIS’s funding base toward becoming a permanent mechanism.
The Workshop concluded with active participation and constructive discussions from all representatives. All participating countries expressed their shared recognition of the importance of AFSIS in strengthening regional food security and statistical cooperation. No country raised objections regarding the significance of AFSIS or the proposed directions for its short-term and long-term sustainability. It was emphasized that the sustainability of AFSIS involves not only financial aspects but also continuous technical collaboration, capacity building, and strong partnerships among ASEAN+3.
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On 13–15 January 2026, the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Thailand, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan, and the AFSIS Secretariat, conducted the 1st Meeting of Japan–Thailand Expert Dialogue on Agricultural Statistics. The meeting was held at the Office of Agricultural Economics and field survey activities in Chonburi Province.
On 3–4 December 2025, the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat participated in the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Table Top Exercise (TTX) held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
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AFSIS and Development of Human Resources" in Cambodia On 27 November 2025, Mr. Charapon Chantorn, Deputy AFSIS Manager, participated in the Completion and Handover Ceremony of the project “Establishing the Real-Time ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) and Development of Human Resources, Phase 3 – Pilot Project on Strategic Crop Forecasting System for Food Security in Cambodia.” The ceremony was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and jointly hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Cambodia, and the Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC).
AFSIS Participated in APRSAF-31 to Strengthen Space Technology Cooperation for Regional Food Security On 18–19 November 2025, in Cebu City, the Republic of the Philippines, the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) Secretariat, represented by Mr. Charapon Chantorn, Deputy AFSIS Manager, participated in the 31st Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF-31). The Forum, a key platform for promoting regional cooperation in space technology across the Asia-Pacific region, was co-organized by the Philippines Space Agency (PhilSA), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
