ASEAN-JICA Food Value Chain Development Project

Due to the constant growth of the ASEAN economy, the middle-class consumers who tend to be keen for food safety and also have strong demand for high value-added products are dramatically increasing in these few decades. ASEAN recognizes that the establishment of a sound food value chain can be a key solution for ensuring the food safety and sustainable development in the region as reflected in its various policy documents such as the Vision and Strategic Plan for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2016-2025), ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region (2015-2020), and the ASEAN Plus Three Leader’s Statement on Food Security Cooperation 2017. Through their endorsement and request for development of a full proposal by the ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) and JICA, the value of the initiative to ASEAN was recognized at both the Special SOM-18^th AMAF+3 and 19^th AMAF+3 Meetings in 2019.

JICA and the ASEAN Secretariat initiated the discussions on the formulation of a new project in February 2018. After collecting the necessary information and data in the region, JICA developed and presented a conceptual framework of the project on the occasion of Special SOM-18^th AMAF+3 Meeting held in Viet Nam on 7 August 2019, in which the concept proposal was welcomed by SOM-AMAF+3 Leaders. The project proposal was approved by the ASEAN Secretariat in October 2021. However, the further administrative process in Japan in preparation for the project has been delayed due to the COVID-19 situation in 2021-2022.

In the revised Project Proposal was endorsed by SOM-AMAF on 7 July 2023, this project was also described in the Record of Discussions (hereinafter referred to as “R/D”) signed by ASEC and the JICA on 28 July 2023, and furthermore, JICA was processing further amendment on revised Project Proposal and it was signed by JICA and ASEAN.

Objectives/Outcomes

The main objectives of the Project is to improve food safety in the fishery sector by promotion of GAqP and development of ASEAN guidelines and relevant principles on fisheries inspection mechanism.  For achieving this objective, the following activities are planned to implement:

(1) to assess and share information on hygiene management system such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and HACCP of fishery products; (2) to prepare module-based training materials and conduct training for the implementation of the ASEAN regional guideline on Cold Chain Management, GMP and HACCP; (3) to develop regional guidelines of inspection for fish and fishery products at each point on supply chain; and (4) to conduct trainings on ASEAN GAqP for extension workers and auditors.

Under the Project ASEAN-JICA Food Value Chain, comprises 4 thematic areas Output 1) Measures are developed for the marketing and promotion of national and ASEAN-GAP (Good Agriculture Practice), Output2) Capacities of pesticide residue analysis necessary to strengthen SPS (Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary) measures in AMS are improved, Output 3)Food safety on fishery sector is improved by promotion of GAqP and development of ASEAN guidelines and relevant principles on fisheries inspection mechanism and Output 4) Strategies for promoting PPP based Food Value Chain are developed.

Under Output 3) Food safety on fishery sector is improved by the promotion of GAqP and development of ASEAN guidelines and relevant principles on fisheries inspection mechanism. SEAFDEC will implement the activities of the Output 3 as described below table. The proposed project supports the fishery sector by strengthening the hygiene management system of fishery products, the implementation of ASEAN Good Aquaculture Practices (ASEAN-GAqP), and the inspection for fish and fisheries products in supply chain.