The 2026 ASEAN Think Tanks Summit (ATTS) Workshop, organized by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs was recently held in Singapore, bringing together regional experts and stakeholders to address pressing challenges at the convergence of climate change and food systems. This is part of the ASEAN Track 1.5 dialogue series where discussions contribute to broader regional policy processes, including inputs to the ASEAN Secretariat and policy recommendations for ASEAN Member States.
Anchored on the theme “Climate Risks and Food Security”, the workshop highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of ASEAN’s agricultural systems. Discussions focused on advancing climate adaptation strategies for producers and smallholder farmers, examining the impacts of global market volatility on food stockpiles, trade policies, and domestic food prices, and addressing the competing demands for land use for food, animal feed, and fuel. Participants also explored ways to safeguard the integrity of biofuels and waste-to-energy supply chains across region. Dr. Sonny Domingo, Senior Research Fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, participated in the workshop.
A separate evening event titled “Sustainability Talks” featured Dr. Domingo as one of two guest speakers on Climate Adaptation and Resilience in ASEAN Agriculture. Dr Domingo shared the Philippine context and highlighted the need to strengthen climate resilience in ASEAN agricultural systems. His presentation touched on the recovery of ASEAN economies and the climate-disaster-economic nexus, covered ASEAN-wide and country-level agricultural risk exposures and outlined ongoing adaptation and resilience efforts. He also identified key pathways forward for strengthening climate resilience and advancing sustainable agricultural development across both the Philippines and the wider ASEAN region.
The first session of the ATTS workshop emphasized the continued vulnerability of ASEAN’s food security to both climate-related shocks and shifting market conditions. The session looked back on the severe typhoons and floods experienced in 2025, which caused widespread economic damage and exposed the critical gaps in infrastructure, land use planning, and disaster preparedness. These highlighted the growing intensity of climate risks and their direct implications for agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. The session also examined the key risks faced by agricultural producers, particularly smallholder farmers, in the context of climate change. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen climate adaptation strategies across the region, including improving access to climate-resilient technologies, enhancing early warning systems and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Session 2 focused on the growing pressures on agricultural systems as demand expands across three competing uses: food, animal feed, and fuel. The workshop session featured how the rising protein consumption in developing countries is increasing demand for animal feed, while the global transition away from fossil fuels is simultaneously driving demand for biofuels. These overlapping needs are placing significant strain on land use across the ASEAN region.
The ATTS workshop and the Sustainability Talks are both timely and highly relevant, given the increasing convergence of climate risks, market volatility, and pressures on agricultural systems across the ASEAN region. The discussions brought together diverse perspectives from policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in strengthening food security and resilience.
Learnings point to clear applications for both regional and national policy and development initiatives. A key priority is the stronger integration of climate resilience and food security into agricultural planning, supported by evidence-based research and data-driven decision-making. The need to enhance knowledge exchange through policy dialogues, technical platforms and capacity-building initiatives is also important. Overall, these insights reinforce the importance of coordinated and collaborative approaches in advancing resilient and sustainable communities and food systems.
