AS I write this column, there are hopes that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran will hold as the global food system took a lot of beating from higher fertilizer and transport costs due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
And if peace prevails in the Middle East, the nations and regions whose food production systems absorb shocks should waste no time in making their agriculture sectors more resilient and sustainable.
This includes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that, thankfully, already has the Asean Food Security Alliance (AFSA) created in 2024 through the Asean-Business Advisory Council (BAC) Philippines led by Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship-Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion. And yours truly was one of those who led in its conceptualization and currently its senior adviser.