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.
The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei Darussalam, and the APTERR Secretariat. The meeting was attended by representatives from ASEAN+3 member countries, the APTERR Council, as well as observers from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and ASEAN Secretariat.
The main objective of the TTX was to assess the overall readiness and effectiveness of the APTERR mechanism in responding to food crises across all three (3) Tiers. The exercise aimed to strengthen coordination among relevant agencies, clarify crisis activation procedures, and enhance understanding of emergency response mechanisms. It also sought to identify gaps in operational plans, promote the use of digital tools for early warning and information sharing, and improve efficiency, coordination, and the overall responsiveness of APTERR during emergencies.
On this occasion, Dr. Sumanya Ngandee, AFSIS Manager, delivered a presentation titled “AFSIS: Towards Credible, Reliable, Up-to-date, and Early Warning Food Security Information.” She also participated in group discussions focused on strengthening APTERR operations and advancing collaboration between AFSIS and APTERR under the FEMI Project.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for ASEAN+3 representatives to exchange views on the implementation of APTERR operations, including progress and future directions under the APTERR Tier 1 mechanism.
The event concluded on a positive note, with all member states expressing strong commitment to continued cooperation and enhanced collaboration between AFSIS and APTERR moving forward.
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.
