SFA-Temasek Roundtable on ASEAN’s Food System Transformation - Ms Grace Fu

A very good afternoon. 

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the SFA-Temasek Roundtable on ASEAN’s Food System Transformation.  

First, let me thank Temasek for partnering the Singapore Food Agency to convene this Roundtable. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to our ASEAN Ministers and Senior Officials, business and finance leaders, and partners. Thank you for joining us today. 

This Roundtable brings together a diverse group of stakeholders from across the agrifood system. Each with a distinct role to play in strengthening ASEAN’s food security, resilience and long-term growth. 

We meet at a time when the global agrifood landscape is changing rapidly. Climate change is affecting agricultural production. Resources such as land and water are under increasing pressure. Supply chains are becoming more complex and vulnerable to disruptions. At the same time, technological developments are creating new opportunities to improve productivity and resilience. Together, these developments are transforming food systems around the world.  

Ensuring reliable food supplies remain a fundamental priority for our region. At the same time, we must help our farmers and business adapt to changing conditions, remain competitive and seize new opportunities for growth.  

This afternoon, we will hear different perspectives on the global agrifood outlook, the future of food production in ASEAN, strengthening food resilience and the role that investment and partnerships can play in supporting long-term growth.  More importantly, we have an opportunity to focus on what comes next. For example, how can we mobilise investment into projects that strengthen food systems. And how can we bring solutions to more farmers, businesses and communities across the region.

I hope today’s Roundtable will provide a useful platform for a candid and forward-looking exchange. I also hope it will help us identify practical areas where governments, businesses, investors and international organisations can work together. 

As AMAF Chair, Singapore is committed to supporting our ASEAN’s efforts to strengthen regional food security and resilience. We believe that closer cooperation across ASEAN will enable us to learn from one another, build on our respective strengths, and turn shared priorities into meaningful action. 

I therefore encourage everyone to participate actively today, and to identify opportunities for collaboration that can be taken beyond this Roundtable. 

Thank you, and I look forward to a productive and meaningful discussion.