Singapore signs agreement with FAO to bolster food and nutrition security in Southeast Asia

Singapore and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will collaborate to enhance food and nutrition security in Southeast Asia.

This is the first agreement signed between the FAO and Singapore since it became a part of the organisation in 2013, and will focus on food safety and fisheries.

The project is aimed at strengthening health and safety of food, including food sold on streets, and to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

The collaboration will also look into reducing food losses and waste, increasing the sustainability of trade and agriculture, as well as building resilience to animal and plant-related threats.

FAO director-general José Graziano da Silva said: "During my first official visit to Singapore last year, I was impressed by its innovative efforts to ensure food security and food safety.

"I see the value of sharing its good practices with other countries."

The organisation hopes to initiate knowledge exchanges, technical consultations ,and other forms of cooperation, such as sending experts across the region. It also plans to conduct trainings, study visits, joint seminars, and workshops.

FAO and Singapore also plan to develop food policies and create agricultural research programmes, training material, and disseminating new technologies.

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Image: The collaboration would work on controlling illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Photo: courtesy of noomhh / freedigitalphotos.net.