Thailand Discusses Agricultural Cooperation with ASEAN Ministers to Address Middle East Crisis
Thailand joined an emergency ASEAN agriculture meeting to discuss regional food security responses to the Middle East crisis, which has disrupted fertilizer supplies and driven up production costs across Southeast Asia. The Thai delegation
Thailand joined a special ASEAN agriculture and forestry ministers' meeting to discuss cooperation in reinforcing agricultural security in response to the Middle East situation. Winayadej Thrupsuksok, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, headed the Thai delegation in the online Special ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting on The Latest Situation in The Middle East. The delegation included Deputy Permanent Secretary Narumol Songwanwong, ministry officials, and relevant staff participating from the Agriculture and Cooperatives ministry conference room.
The permanent secretary addressed the meeting to exchange Thailand's perspectives and adaptation strategies, noting that the Middle East crisis has impacted global food security, agricultural production, and the stability of input supply chains, particularly fertilizers. These disruptions have negatively affected vulnerable groups in the ASEAN region, increasing production costs and food prices for member states.
The ministry has implemented proactive measures to ensure adequate fertilizer supplies domestically while promoting the combined use of chemical, organic, and biological fertilizers to reduce production costs and maintain efficiency. Thailand is also promoting knowledge transfer suited to different crop types and soil conditions, supporting research and development in soil quality improvement, and developing sustainable agricultural systems.
Thailand emphasized support for agricultural market stability and developing resilient and sustainable agriculture aligned with the ASEAN Vision 2045 and relevant cooperation frameworks. The meeting included discussions on current situations, preparedness measures, and emergency response plans, with agreement to strengthen regional coordination and joint actions supporting ASEAN food security.
The meeting stressed the importance of maintaining smooth circulation of food, fertilizers, and agricultural inputs, while agreeing to avoid unnecessary trade restrictions that could worsen food insecurity and increase market volatility. Enhanced regional cooperation was emphasized to strengthen capacity in addressing external crises.
The meeting reflected Thailand's commitment to upgrading agriculture through ecosystem-conscious approaches that enhance flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability while supporting global food security. Thailand emphasized the necessity of concrete cooperation among ASEAN members to enable the region to maintain its leadership role and remain a trusted partner in global food security forums.
