Context
The free movement of goods and services is one of main goals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Agriculture is a major source of income for many of its Member States and is im-portant for regional integration. ASEAN aims to improve the quality of agricultural production and co-operation in the region to boost its internal and external trade. It also strives to improve its production of ‘organic foods’ in line with international standards on quality and sustainability.
These goals require the harmonisation of standards and the implementation of accreditation and certi-fication schemes. Although many ASEAN Member States have already improved their standards, this does not guarantee them access to global markets. Furthermore, the private sector lags behind re-garding the application of standards already in place. Against this background, the project assists in overcoming barriers to cross-border agricultural trade within ASEAN and beyond. It also helps partners to implement quality, safety and sustainability standards more effectively in order to improve integra-tion into regional and global value chains.
Objective
The framework conditions in the ASEAN region for the implementation of sustainability standards in agricultural value chains are improved – with a focus on climate-relevant aspects.
Approach
The project promotes sustainable agricultural value chains in ASEAN as follows:
• By enhancing cooperation between relevant ASEAN bodies and the private sector;
• Through gender mainstreaming in relevant ASEAN strategy documents;
• By improving the prerequisites for private sector engagement, including climate-smart agricul-ture practices;
• With awareness campaigns on the health and ecological benefits, including climate benefits, of cultivating sustainable agricultural products; and
• By compiling lessons learned from implementing quality and sustainability standards for use by decision-makers in the CLMV countries.
External Links
Sustainable Agrifood in ASEAN - https://www.asean-agrifood.org/
ASEAN Climate Resilience Network (ASEAN-CRN) - https://asean-crn.org/