FAO-BIOTEC: Advancing PPA BE2 in the ASEAN Region, Building on the Experiences from Thailand
Advancing the Priority Programme Area Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture
Under The Better Environment in FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 (PPA BE2) in the ASEAN Region, Building on the Experiences from Thailand
Project overview
Thailand’s National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), a member of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in close collaboration with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) is implementing a project titled “Advancing Bioeconomy in ASEAN promoting Sustainability and Partnership with insights and experience in Thailand.” The project is funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for a period of 1 year (2024).
Advancing bioeconomy of ASEAN is essential for sustainability, economic development, and environmental conservation. This project aims to facilitate sustainable growth within the bioeconomy sector with a particular focus on advancing the FAO’s PPA BE2 (Program Priority: Bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture) within the ASEAN region. It seeks to enhance political will through the strategic leveraging of Thailand’s BCG model and promotion of knowledge exchange with other nations and improving knowledge, capacity building and partnership. Through a comprehensive approach, the project plans to conduct a series of events aimed at sharing bioeconomy knowledge to showcase experiences of Thailand and other ASEAN members and facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building within the bioeconomy sector.
Objectives
While several countries have established national bioeconomy strategies, the existence of comprehensive regional strategies is currently limited to the EU and Eastern Africa. While ASEAN countries like Indonesia are in the early stages, efforts are underway to enhance the agricultural sector. Malaysia's Bioeconomy Transformation Programme emphasizes the use of domestic resources, while Thailand has a 10-year roadmap focusing on boosting the domestic biological industry. The scarcity of regional frameworks poses a significant challenge in delineating the bioeconomic pathways in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the progress in implementing these strategies varies.
Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the development, policies, and pathways of bioeconomy in the region, BIOTEC is organizing a series of events which are integral components of the FAO-funded project aimed at fostering sustainable growth within the bioeconomy sector, with a specific focus on advancing the FAO’s PPA BE2 on bioeconomy within the ASEAN region.
Activities
- High-Level Workshop on “Bioeconomy in the Agriculture in Southeast Asia” – May 2024 (hybrid) – High-level officials
- Sectorial meetings on bioeconomy (agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and forestry) – June to September 2024 (hybrid) – Professional-level officials
- Bioeconomy knowledge dissemination events – June to September 2024 (online) – Professional-level officials
- ASEAN Bioeconomy Summit – November 2024 (hybrid) – High-level and professional-level officials
Duration
1 year (1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024)
