Manila, 9 March 2024: From 8-9 March 2024, the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) hosted a capacity-building workshop focusing on enhancing phytosanitary compliance and facilitating the seed trade across South and Southeast Asia by encouraging the adoption of the electronic phytosanitary (ePhyto) system. Organized in collaboration with key global and regional partners, this event marked a critical step in the project on “Strengthening phytosanitary compliance to boost seed trade in the Asia Pacific”, funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).’ A total of 39 participants; 16 from the public sector, 7 from the private sector companies, and the remaining from global nonprofits, coming from 7 countries, participated actively in the workshop. 

Featuring a robust agenda that covered essential topics like the adoption of electronic phytosanitary (ePhyto) certificates, the workshop brought together experts on ePhyto from global organizations such as the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC),  United Nations International Computing Center (UNICC), USDA, International Seed Federation (ISF), the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA), CropLife Asia, and the American Seed Trade Association

The workshop was designed to build capacity of National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) from participating countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Nepal, Philippines, and Thailand) on International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 12 (ISPM 12) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) ePhyto solution (electronic phytosanitary certificate). These collective efforts underscored a pivotal move towards streamlining seed trade across South and Southeast Asia, enhancing efficiency, reliability, and safety in the agricultural sector.

Mr. Simon Padilla representing the STDF highlighted the past efforts of the STDF and the immense importance of the project for facilitating safe trade through the digitization of phytosanitary certificates and seed-specific pest lists in the region.

Ms Dinh Thi Nhu, the national plant protection officer from Viet Nam stated “It is a good platform to exchange data and information on how countries are approaching ePhyto to facilitate seed trade in a faster and safer way. We learnt a lot from this workshop.”

Khalil Hamid, Program Manager, Foreign Agricultural Service Office of Global Programs, from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), underscored the transformative potential of ePhyto in streamlining seed trade and ensuring quality seeds’ efficient and reliable flow.

“Implementation of ePhyto will continue to greatly enhance seed trade across South and Southeast Asia, translating into efficient and reliable flow of quality seeds. USDA actively supports the regions’ efforts to further adoption and implementation of ePhyto among others through the STDF project,” he stated.

Dr. Ravi Khetarpal, Executive Director of APAARI, highlighted the workshop’s critical role in facilitating harmonization of digital advancements in phytosanitary documentation for international seed movement for trade from the region.

“The STDF project brought together NPPOs of selected countries from South and South East Asia mainly to discuss the status of ePhyto in their countries with international experts. Digitization of exchange of phytosanitary documents is bound to expedite smooth and safe trade from the region,” he explained.

Rose Souza Richards, Phytosanitary Affairs Manager, ISF, praised the ePhyto system’s significant advancements in global agricultural trade. “The adoption of the ePhyto system marks a significant leap forward in enhancing the efficiency, security, and sustainability of global agricultural trade,” she noted.

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the current state and future direction of phytosanitary measures, digital certification processes, and the significant impact of ePhyto on global agricultural trade. The key outcomes included a unified commitment towards adopting the ePhyto system, a strategic roadmap for its implementation, and the fostering of regional collaborations. The workshop underscored the critical role of digital advancements in phytosanitary documentation, promising a more sustainable and prosperous future for agriculture in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

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About the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI):

APAARI is a membership-based, apolitical, multi-stakeholder, and intergovernmental regional organization that catalyzes collective action to improve agri-food research and innovation systems toward a more sustainable Asia-Pacific region.

About the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)

The STDF is a global partnership facilitating safe and inclusive trade in developing countries by enhancing their capacity to meet international food safety, and animal and plant health standards.

Contact Information

For more details about the workshop outcomes and future initiatives, please contact:

Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Project Manager, s.bajaj@apaari.org

The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) recently marked the successful culmination of the “Asia Pesticide Residue Mitigation through the Promotion of Biopesticides and Enhancement of Trade Opportunities” project with a closing workshop held at the Swissotel Bangkok Ratchada on 23-24 January 2024. The event brought together approximately 35 participants, including representatives from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) team, country partners, technical teams, and private industries such as CropLife Asia and Jagro Fresh Sri Lanka.

The workshop served as a platform for participants to reflect on the transformative journey of the project, which aimed to champion the adoption of biopesticides complementing chemical pesticides to reduce the pesticide residue levels in the crops. Funded by STDF, this initiative was implemented by APAARI from February 2020 to December 2023 in nine countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and sought to promote the use of biopesticides while addressing trade concerns related to pesticide residues.

Through extensive support and training provided by the project team, study teams across the participating countries are now equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote safe and sustainable agricultural practices. The project focused on capacity building and awareness activities related to new Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) data interpretation, improved practices in manufacturing microbial pesticides, regulatory harmonization, and extension and outreach activities. Key outcomes of the project, such as the successful integration of biopesticides alongside conventional pesticides to reduce pesticide MRLs, were highlighted during the workshop.

The closing workshop facilitated fruitful discussions on potential pathways forward and the formulation of a robust sustainability strategy. The project team and the country partners summarized project activities, challenges, outcomes, and lessons learned, paving the way for continued collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of biopesticide research and implementation.

Dr. Ravi Khetarpal, Executive Director of APAARI, expressed his gratitude to all participants for their invaluable contributions to the project’s success. He emphasized the importance of regional collaboration and capacity building in addressing trade concerns related to pesticide residues while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The APAARI team provided support and training to study teams, focusing on capacity building and awareness activities related to new MRL data interpretation, improved practices in manufacturing microbial pesticides, regulatory harmonization, and extension and outreach activities.

Overall, the closing workshop of the biopesticide project served as a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the stakeholders in advancing agricultural sustainability and promoting biopesticide use across the Asia-Pacific region. As the project concludes, APAARI will continue to promote the activities and outputs initiated through the project to contribute significantly to the region’s agricultural sector and trade for years to come.

The Fourth Global Foresight4Food Workshop is set to take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 3-7 June 2024. This event, themed “Reframing Food Futures: Making Foresight Transformative,” aims to continue the vital conversation on the future of food and its sustainability. Building on the success of the last workshop in Montpellier, it seeks to further explore synergies between Foresight4Food initiatives and the broader foresight community as well as members of APAARI.

Workshop Objectives:

• To strengthen the international community of foresight practitioners, users, and researchers.
• To identify opportunities for enhancing the use of foresight in food systems transformation initiatives.
• To deepen the understanding of effective foresight approaches, methods, and tools.
• To explore the application of foresight and scenario analysis in contributing to societal understanding, policy innovation, and systemic change.

Call for Participation:

Foresight4Food is currently inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organizations passionate about shaping the future of food. Whether you are a previous participant or new to the Foresight4Food community, you are welcome to contribute to this critical discussion.

How to Apply:

For more details and to express your interest in participating, please visit the Foresight4Food website. Complete the expression of interest form by 5:00 pm (GMT+7) on Tuesday, 30 April, 2024. You are encouraged to nominate colleagues from your organization or network who would benefit from and contribute to this workshop.

Selection Process:

Given the limited spots available and the high demand experienced in past workshops, selection will aim to balance representation across regions, countries, and stakeholder groups. This ensures a diverse and effective mix of participants capable of advancing our workshop objectives. Selected participants will receive formal invitations, registration forms, and a detailed program by 3 May, 2024.

Limited Availability:

Participation is capped at 100 attendees to foster deep discussions and engagement. Based on the overwhelming interest in previous workshops, it is advised to express your interest early.

Learn more

One of the central challenges addressed at the workshop was the lack of harmonization in biopesticide regulations across Asian countries. A key focus of the workshop was aligning these regulations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Guidelines on the Regulation, Use, and Trade of Biological Control Agents (BCA). The ASEAN Guidelines serve as a regional framework to facilitate the safe and effective use of biopesticides across borders. This harmonization effort aims to streamline regulatory processes and promote the responsible use of these environmentally friendly pest management tools.

The workshop focused on enhancing biopesticide regulatory processes, strengthening the relationship between regulators from different countries, offering strategic technical advice, and addressing regional harmonization and capacity-building needs. APAARI is happy to publish the outcome of the regional workshop that was attended from regulators from Asian countries. For an in-depth exploration of the discussions and outcomes, we invite you to delve into the full report, available HERE.

For further information and inquiries, please reach out to:

Dr. Sasireka Rajendran
Project Manager, APAARI
Email: s.rajendran@apaari.org

As Asia marches forward on its journey towards sustainable agriculture, biopesticides emerge as powerful tools, offering benefits that extend far beyond the fields. The harmonization of regulations ensures that these eco-friendly solutions can be deployed effectively, safeguarding crops, the environment, and the health of communities across the continent. Stay tuned for updates on pesticide residue mitigation project.