The 17th Steering Committee Meeting of the ASEAN-AVRDC Regional Network for Vegetable Research and Development (AARNET) was held at Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) yesterday.
Agri-technology & Food Innovation Department Director Poh Bee Ling, who also serves as the AARNET Chairman, delivered welcoming remarks followed by Centre for Research on AgriFood Science and Technology (CrAFT) Director Dr Syazana Abdullah Lim and World Vegetable Centre-East and Southeast Asia Regional Director Delphine Larrousse.
AARNET, a collaborative platform jointly established by ASEAN and the World Vegetable Centre, has a primary objective of bolstering research and development endeavours in vegetable production, postharvest management, and sustainable agriculture.
With a focus on regional cooperation, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer, the network strives to enhance vegetable productivity, nutritional value, and marketability across ASEAN member countries. Committee members discussed various aspects of vegetable research and development.
The meeting centres around multiple agendas, including updates on the AARNET project proposals, the identification of significant challenges encountered in the vegetable sector within the ASEAN region, the exploration of innovative solutions, and the establishment of partnerships to tackle these challenges.
Today committee members will reach a consensus on a set of recommendations to strengthen the operations of the network and its impact in the ASEAN region and creating future initiatives to fulfill the ever-changing demands of the vegetable industry.
The two-day meeting will conclude with a site visit to Tungku Agricultural Development Area and Rimba Agricultural Development Area in Gadong to witness agricultural initiatives and innovative practices implemented.
