Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development in ASEAN: Focusing on Decarbonisation and Digitalisation

This report synthesises the key findings of the ASEAN–Japan Symposium on Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Development in ASEAN: Focusing on Decarbonisation and Digitalisation, held in Tokyo, Japan, from 25 to 27 November 2025, and sets out actionable recommendations to accelerate progress in both areas. It highlights the urgent need to address climate change, resource constraints, and persistent productivity challenges across ASEAN’s agriculture sector.

Digitalisation and decarbonisation are identified as critical pathways to enhance productivity, strengthen resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in agrifood systems. The report notes growing adoption of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital marketplaces across ASEAN. It also underscores the strong potential of regenerative agriculture practices – including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and biochar – to deliver measurable emissions reductions. Regional frameworks, such as the ASEAN Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectoral Plan (FAF-SP) 2026–2030 and the ASEAN–Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan, provide an important foundation for scaling these efforts.

To move from pilots to large-scale implementation, the report emphasises the need for strengthened public–private partnerships, deeper regional co-operation, and more accessible and inclusive financing mechanisms to support technology adoption across diverse agricultural systems in ASEAN.