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Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
Speeches

48th Meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) - Ms Grace Fu

29 October 2026

Opening Remarks by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, at the 48th Meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) on 29 Oct 2026.

  1. Let me express Singapore's appreciation to the Philippines for its exemplary leadership over the past year.

  2. Under your stewardship, Secretary Francisco Laurel, ASEAN has made meaningful progress in advancing our shared agenda for the food, agriculture and forestry sectors. We are grateful for the Philippines’ commitment and leadership, and for the strong foundation on which Singapore will build upon in the year ahead.

  3. It is a privilege for Singapore to assume the AMAF Chairmanship. We do so against a rapidly evolving global backdrop. Across our region and beyond, advances in technology, changing consumer expectations and shifting market dynamics are transforming the food, agriculture and forestry sectors. At the same time, climate change, geopolitical developments, supply chain disruptions, and emerging pests and animal diseases underscore the need to strengthen the resilience of our food systems.

  4. Our challenges are interconnected and addressing them requires collective action. For example, supporting farmers to reduce reliance on slash and burn practices and adopt more sustainable and productive agricultural practices, can yield benefits for both our environmental sustainability and food security. By working together and taking a holistic approach, ASEAN can build more sustainable and resilient food systems.

  5. As AMAF Chair, Singapore will table a concept note on Food Security Resilience Pact 2045, which will provide a long-term framework to strengthen resilience across areas such as food availability, climate adaptation, technology, resilient supply chains, emergency preparedness and financing.

  6. The ASEAN climate change study which will be discussed later today, will strengthen our collective understanding of the climate risks facing our food systems and highlight pathways to enhance adaptation and resilience.

  7. Singapore is also exploring ways to strengthen support for smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia by galvanising partnerships across governments, industry, and other stakeholders to accelerate the development and deployment of climate-resilient solutions across the region. Together, these initiatives reflect our shared commitment to build a more resilient, sustainable, and food-secure ASEAN.

  8. It is this commitment that underpins Singapore’s Chairmanship theme, "Rooted in Partnerships, Growing Our Resilience”.

  9. The theme reflects the fact that ASEAN’s greatest strength lies in our ability to work together. We are strongest when we partner one another, learn from one another’s experiences and support one another in addressing common challenges.

  10. We also hope to deepen collaboration with our external partners, recognising that many of the challenges ASEAN face today transcend borders and regions.

  11. I look forward to our discussions and to working with all of you in the year ahead.

  12. Thank you.