Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat, welcomed representatives from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), namely Ms. Nora Hobbs, the new WFP Regional Nutrition Advisor, and Mr. Arvind Betigeri, the Regional Food Fortification Advisor, for a meeting to explore potential cooperation on rice fortification to enhance nutrition support in times of emergency.
Recognising the exacerbation of micronutrient deficiencies in humanitarian crises, WFP in collaboration with the APTERR Secretariat has been developing the project proposal on the ‘APTERR Rice Fortification Project’ to strengthen food security and bolster the nutritional quality of APTERR rice. This initiative aims to support people affected by emergency and contribute to the reduction of poverty and malnutrition in the ASEAN Plus Three member countries.
The APTERR Secretariat has been working closely with WFP to ensure that the initiative aligns with the APTERR mechanism, the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (SPA-FS), as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative will be introduced at the upcoming APTERR Council Meeting in Japan next year.
The meeting, held on 29 October 2024, was also attended by Mr. Akinori Ando, Japanese Expert to the APTERR Secretariat, Ms. Jansinee Kankaew, Head of Implementation, and Ms. Nattavadee Sraprathum, Technical Staff for Food Emergency Monitoring Information (FEMI).
