PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
MAIN PAGE | EVENTS & PROGRAMS | 1999 | FOOD AND AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE

PBEC Sponsors Food & Agriculture Strategy Conference in Manila, Philippines Calls for More Efficient, Safer, and Secure Food Supply On March 10-12 1999, the Pacific Basin Economic Council's Working Committee on Food Products convened at the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines to host the Pacific Basin Food and Agriculture Study Conference. The three-day conference consisted of two sessions, the PBEC Value Chain for Poultry Conference on March 10, and the APEC Food and Agriculture Strategy Conference, held March 11-12. Original Agenda & Registration Form Requires Acrobat Reader. Twenty five business and government representatives from eight PBEC member economies attended the March 10 session of the conference to finalize the PBEC Value Chain for Poultry Study and to develop policy and program recommendations for consideration and implementation by governments and the private sector to facilitate improvements in the production, distribution, and overall supply of poultry in Pacific Basin economies. The Value Chain for Poultry Study will serve as a model for other sectoral studies aimed at strengthening growth and development and increased efficiency in food production throughout the Asia-Pacific Region. The study findings and conference recommendations will be presented for adoption by the PBEC Board of Directors at the PBEC International General Meeting in Hong Kong, May 14-19, 1999. The March 11-12 session of the conference, the APEC Food and Agriculture Strategy Conference, organized by PBEC in cooperation with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), was attended by 42 business and government representatives from 12 PBEC member economies. Participants worked from issue papers presented at the conference to develop coordinated regional private sector strategies in support of the APEC Food System. Issue papers covered the topics of regional integration, food security, food system technology and technology transfer, food safety and SPS issues, trade and investment liberalization, and the environmental implications of the APEC Food System. Focused discussions on these issues resulted in a series of findings and recommendations in support of the proposed APEC Food System. These findings will also be presented at the PBEC IGM in support of the APEC efforts for an open and efficient food system. The conference results will also be utilized by ABAC as it further develops the APEC Food System Concept. The Pacific Basin Food and Agriculture Strategy Conference was held at a crucial time for PBEC member economies. In light of the region's current economic difficulties, food supply is certain to remain a critical issue. Businesses, communities, and governments all stand to gain from working together towards improvements in the regional food system that result in greater efficiency and a safer, more secure food supply. This conference marks important advances toward that goal. The next meeting of the PBEC Working Committee on Food Products will be at the International General Meeting in Hong Kong, May 14-19, 1999.