Malaysia: Malaysia stands to expand markets for its agri-food, agri-commodity and forestry products and gain access to climate-smart agricultural technology through two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed under ASEAN. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) today said the agreements will also strengthen regional food supply chains against threats from floods, droughts, and cross-border pests and diseases.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu signed the two MoUs on behalf of the Malaysian government at the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting yesterday. 'The first agreement, the ASEAN Cooperation in Agriculture and Forest Products Scheme, was signed with ASEAN member states and focuses on five key areas,' KPKM said in a statement.

These include strengthening regional food security, facilitating trade in agricultural and forestry products, promoting private investment, sustainably conserving natural resources, and coordinating ASEAN positions on international issues. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) will serve as the Lead Country for palm oil and cocoa commodities, while KPKM will lead Malaysia's agri-food products, according to the statement.

The cooperation will enable ASEAN member states to undertake joint strategic campaigns to defend the position of palm oil and local agri-food products in global markets. It will also open wider market access for industrial crops, livestock products, herbs, medicinal products, and forest produce, including mushrooms, nuts, and wild honey.

The second MoU, between ASEAN and China, covers 18 areas of cooperation over five years to promote sustainable agriculture, improve product competitiveness, and strengthen regional food security. Among the areas covered are low-carbon climate-smart agriculture, sustainable forest management, disaster risk management, and agricultural insurance to strengthen supply chain resilience, cross-border pest and disease control, research cooperation, and trade information-sharing.

The ministry added that the ASEAN-China cooperation would facilitate the transfer of climate-smart technology, policy coordination, and research and development expertise, supporting Malaysia's transition towards low-carbon agriculture and sustainable resource management.