RSIS-NTS Centre-EU Centre in Singapore Joint Seminar on Food Security and Water Management Innovations in ASEAN and Lessons from the EU by Dr Sara Medina

This seminar will explore Food Security & Water Management in ASEAN from a European perspective and highlight innovative measures in the region.Some of the best practices in the ASEAN region (for instance, Agricultural value chain involving smallholder family farming and Shrimp farming in Vietnam, Private public partnerships in agriculture and Groundwater system in Thailand, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) in Cambodia etc.) will be highlighted along with support structures and instruments that have aided in the implementation of these practices. Particular focus will be on connecting the food security issues with water challenges in the region. Regional examples will be presented and discussed to understand the role of certain stakeholders in the ecosystem. Also, barriers still prevalent within these sectors in hindering development in the region like lack of access to information on advanced research, technology trend and big data challenge, bureaucracy etc. will be discussed. Also, remedial measures that could foster innovation including, for instance, engaging the private sector in the efforts to accelerate regional and national growth through innovation, will be debated. In addition, lessons from EU which will allow in stimulating adoptable practices in the region will be explored and deliberated. Lastly, the seminar will conclude with an overview of the potential innovation impact for the ASEAN Economic Community and the expectations from experts from both regions in terms of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and development collaboration. This work is developed under the SEA-EU-NET 2 project (www.sea-eu.net), a European Union supported four-year initiative to assist and encourage research cooperation between Southeast Asia and Europe as well as related policy dialogue.