On 28 June 2024, the AFSIS Secretariat was invited to join a significant meeting with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Secretariat. The meetings aimed to discuss potential collaboration for exploring the LRBFR and to learn from their experiences over more than 10 years of operating the regional emergency rice reserve and the food security-related information-sharing system. which collaborative by Representatives from the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE) of Thailand also participated in the discussion.
The meeting was structured into 4 main sessions:
ERIA Presentation: Mr.Masanori Kozono, Senior Policy Fellow of ERIA provided a concise overview of the study's background, objectives,the team involved, and the expected outcomes. During his presentation, he emphasized the need for guidance and support from ASEAN Member States, and the APTERR and AFSIS secretariat. Following this, Prof. Achmad Suryana presented the outline of the country study, underscoring the importance of learning from national experiences with the APTERR Mechanism and food reserve systems at the country level.
APTERR Presentation: Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn APTERR manager discussed their activities, including the disbursement mechanisms for rice reserves (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3), financial needs for operations, strategies for the quick release of emergency food reserves and Food Emergency Monitoring and Information (FEMI) that cooperate utilize data from AFSIS
AFSIS Presentation: Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, provided an overview of AFSIS operations, highlighting its role in enhancing food security information across ASEAN Plus Three countries. She discussed AFSIS mechanisms, its contributions to the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework (AIFS) and the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS) 2021-2025, Moreover, she presented the progress of the establishment of a permanent mechanism for the sustainability of AFSIS.
Ms. Pasinee Napombejra, an expert on Public Sector Development from the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), presentation on the Provincial Crops Calendar for Food Security and Nutrition, during the session. The presentation highlighted the current situation in Thailand and introduced the OAE statistical database
Following the meeting, the ERIA team acknowledged the pivotal role of AFSIS and appreciated its comprehensive activities, recognizing their potential for further development and benefit to the ASEAN Member States. They expressed eagerness for continued collaboration with AFSIS and the other organizations involved.
On 18 February 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the international event Google’s “Impact of AI on Global Agriculture,” organized by Google.org at Roseate House, Aerocity, New Delhi, India.
On 12-13 February 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Japan and the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives (MOAC), conducted a workshop conducted a workshop The Promoting Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using INAHOR and Space-based Technologies in Thailand at the Meeting Room 2, Innovation Building, 3rd FL, Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE)
The In-Country Workshop on Promoting Rice Planted Area and Production Estimation Using Space-based Technologies in Lao PDR was jointly organized by AFSIS Secretariat, JAXA, MAFF Japan, and MAE Lao PDR under the AFSIS-GIS and SAFE projects. The event was held in Vientiane with hands-on training on 9 February 2026 and a workshop on 10 February 2026.
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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.
