As climate change, land degradation, and evolving global agricultural systems continue to threaten food security and rural livelihoods, the need for stronger regional cooperation has become increasingly urgent. Across Asia and the Pacific, vulnerable farming communities, particularly smallholder farmers and indigenous peoples, face growing challenges related to land tenure insecurity, environmental risks, and limited access to climate-resilient resources and technologies.
In response to these pressing concerns, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) continues to strengthen its collaboration with the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) and the regional partners in advancing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems across the region.
Anchored on a shared vision of empowering rural communities through science, innovation, and policy support, the partnership highlights the importance of integrating climate action, land rights, and food and nutrition security into agricultural development initiatives. DOST-PCAARRD contributed to discussions on the development of the partnership framework, supporting efforts to align agricultural research with on-the-ground realities and promote science-based, climate-responsive, and inclusive development approaches.
As part of this initiative, ANGOC organized the regional workshop, “Mainstreaming land rights and climate change in agricultural food systems,” which gathered stakeholders from across Asia and the Pacific to advance dialogue on community-led research, indigenous knowledge systems, and strengthened policy support for more equitable and resilient food systems. Key discussions and recommendations from the workshopwere published through the ANGOC website.
Building on these regional discussions, DOST-PCAARRD and ANGOC subsequently convened meetings to explore concrete pathways for pilot implementation in Bukidnon, focusing on addressing malnutrition and stunting through integrated, community-responsive, and climate-resilient interventions grounded on indigenous knowledge systems and food and nutrition security.
Supported by the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAiR) under its Collective Action on Land Tenure and Climate Change, and in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), the initiative reflects a shared commitment to translating regional dialogue into actionable, community-level interventions that strengthen resilience and improve food and nutrition security in rural communities.
