Observational Study Mission on Microclimate-controlled Greenhouses for Innovative Agriculture
2023-02-08 - 2023-02-10 | Japan
Recently, vegetable demand in Vietnam has diversified as more produce is being processed, frozen, and exported. Vegetable production must be increased and quality adjusted to meet various demands. On the other hand, labor productivity in vegetable production in Vietnam is not high because many workers are from local ethnic groups in remote areas. Some have worked for a long time because of stable salaries, with good benefits and allowances. Therefore, cutting labor costs is an important issue.
To meet such requirements, precise vegetable production control is needed. The APO initiated a demonstration farm project on Improvement of Productivity in Greenhouse Vegetable Production in October 2022. This project is a collaboration with the Vietnam National Productivity Institute, Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality of Lam Dong Province, Lam Dong Crop Production and Plant Protection Sub-department, and Garden Mountain Joint Stock Company. This entire project is scheduled to be completed in August 2024.
As part of the project, this study mission is being conducted for the beneficiaries to understand the mechanisms of control and microclimate data collection and analysis by referring to selected farms and plant factories in Japan. It is important to learn about and observe best practices before installing microclimate control systems. This project is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan under a special grant to demonstrate microclimate control systems used by Japanese greenhouses.
For more details please click on PN.

Demographic Challenges in the Asian Region
2023-02-09 | APO Secretariat
This P-Talk examines the geographic disparities in demographic trends and patterns in the Asian region, including differentials in population growth rates; levels of urbanization, migration, and fertility; and changing population structures and their overall implications for the productivity of national economies.
Dr. Grace Cruz, Director of the Population Institute of the University of the Philippines, explains these diverse challenges in the region and provides specific country profiles demonstrating the interlinkages among population and development factors. Discussions cover contemporary population/development issues including job structures, employment, female labor force, aging of the population and retirement, and the youth bulge.
Please click here to watch.
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For any inquiries, please write to: p-talk@apo-tokyo.org.

APO Liaison Officers' Meeting
2023-02-14 - 2023-02-16 | Japan
APO LOs play crucial roles in coordinating APO programs and projects which may later determine the quality of deliverables as well as the achievement of objectives. LOs handle all correspondence on nominations of project participants and experts on behalf of the government and arrange for project implementation. With pandemic-related travel restrictions gradually loosening, making possible the resumption of face-to-face (F2F) APO projects, an F2F LO Meeting (LOM) to reinvigorate the link between NPOs and the Secretariat in 2023 will be beneficial.
The LOM was a biannual event pre-COVID-19. The last F2F LOM in 2019 in Tokyo primarily focused on recommendations that evolved through group exercises among participants and introduction of theERP system with hands-on practice. This LOM will continue to address the capacity development ofLOs as discussed at the 63rd Session of the Governing Body in June 2021. To follow up the endorsement of the 63rd WSM held in Bangkok in October 2022, this LOM will mainly discuss the F2F modality of projects in 2023 and give updates on procedures related to COVID-19 in each member country. In addition, the use of the improved ERP system for project management and preliminary project planning for 2024/2025 will be discussed.
Smooth, efficient coordination of and procedures for 2023 projects are among the intended objectives of the LOM. Exchanging information and initiatives for the improvement of project follow-up and monitoring are other goals.
For more details please click on PN.

Workshop on IoT Applications in Livestock Management
2023-02-20 - 2023-02-23 | Thailand
The UN FAO reported in 2019 that the global demand for livestock products was anticipated to double by 2050, most of which was expected in developing countries. The sector needs innovation to boost production with limited land and resources. In addition, the sector must achieve sustainability without causing irreparable environmental damage or exceeding global resources. According to the UN FAO, livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions was at 3.5 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in 2018, representing two-thirds of all emissions from agriculture.
The adoption of IoT and associated digital technologies is a key enabler to achieve both productivity and sustainability. It assists precision livestock farming (PLF) by collecting information for taking actions in a timely, precise manner for individual animals, herds, or flocks as needed. Through IoT applications, farmers can significantly improve the way they manage livestock farming.
Under its Vision 2025, the APO supports enhancing livestock productivity through smart transformation initiatives. This workshop will discuss recent IoT applications in livestock operations including the concept of PLF and observing good practices of selected farms in Thailand. It will also discuss how the IoT and PLF could be adopted in other APO members.
For more details please click on PN.

Japan’s Resilient Agriculture
2023-02-28 | APO Secretariat
In order to build resilient agriculture, we need to reduce environmental negative impacts while increasing food production for growing populations. This requires long-term productivity improvement.
This P-Talk highlights Japan’s national strategy to achieve both increased productivity potentials and sustainability in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries through innovation. Keiichi Sugita, Director for International Agricultural Organizations, International Strategy Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, introduces Japan’s strategy called MeaDRI for sustainable and resilient food systems.
Please click here to watch.
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For any inquiries, please write to: p-talk@apo-tokyo.org.
