CABI Blog

Food systems in the The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) face increasing challenges, as the pressures of climate change force farmers to depend more and more on often-harmful inputs, specifically in relation to plant and crop pest and disease management. This paradigm is recognized by national and regional leaders who have made calls and developed concepts to address this problem.

One of the key activities outlined under the Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) for the ASEAN Cooperation in Crops (2021-2025) is the management of the quarantine pest database and conducting pest risk analysis on the pest of concern within the ASEAN region.

In line with this, Department of Agriculture, Malaysia and CABI co-organized the first ASEAN regional workshop on ASEAN Pest Database with discussions centred around CABI decision support tools, for example, the CABI Compendium, Horizon Scanning Tool and Pest Risk Analysis Tool. The participants of the workshop include the ASEAN Secretariat and representatives from the ASEAN Members States (AMSs).

From CABI, Dr Roger Day, Global Advisor, Plant Health, Dr Chubashini Suntharalingam, Strategic Partnerships Manager, South East Asia, Dr MaryLucy Oronje, Senior Scientist, SPS, and Senior Scientist Dr Sathis Sri Thanarajoo, took part in this workshop.

Participants discussed the pros and cons of different approaches to conducting regional pest-initiated pest risk analysis for priority pests. These sessions were led by Dr Day and Dr Oronje.

Dr MaryLucy Oronje leading a breakout session during the workshop.

Mr Arizal bin Arshad, Deputy Director of the Plant Biosecurity Division (DoA, Malaysia) and Dr Chubashini made closing remarks, and Ms Rosmawati binti Selamat, Director of the Plant Biosecurity Division (DoA, Malaysia), presented certificates of participation.

Ms Rosmawati binti Selamat, Director of the Plant Biosecurity Division (DoA, Malaysia) presenting certificate of participation to Dr Pedris M. Orencio, ASEAN Secretariat.

Additional information

Main image: Delegates at the workshop with the ASEAN Task Force on Pest Database in Malaysia.

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