In March 2026, Fairtrade NAPP joined government agencies, international financial institutions, civil society organizations, and private sector actors at the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum (AFS2026) hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its headquarters in Manila, Philippines. Under the theme "Feeding the Future, Sustaining the Planet," the Forum convened ADB, FAO, IFAD, ASEAN bodies, national governments, and civil society organizations to advance climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems for Asia and the Pacific. Backed by a $40 billion Food Systems Transformation commitment from ADB, the Forum was a critical convergence point for advocacy, visibility, and learning.

About the Forum

The multi-day event brought together participants from governments, international development organizations, the private sector, and civil society. Sessions covered a wide range, from high-level plenaries on climate risks, water stress, and food insecurity to regional dialogues on natural capital, thought leadership panels, country deep dives, and an Innovation Marketplace.

Country presentations from India, Japan, South Korea, the People's Republic of China, and Indonesia showcased a range of approaches to transforming agrifood systems at scale. The diversity of solutions across the region was, as one participant observed, one of the greatest strengths of the Asia-Pacific context.

Fairtrade NAPP's participation was driven by three clear objectives:

• to listen and learn from emerging regional frameworks.
• to connect with organizations working on sustainable and responsible food systems; and
• to position Fairtrade-certified producer cooperatives as credible actors within Asia-Pacific food systems transformation discussions.

This was particularly relevant for Fairtrade NAPP's work alongside smallholder farmer organizations across the region, including those growing bananas, cocoa, coffee, coconuts, and fresh fruit.

Key Themes and Sessions

Across the Forum, sessions covered a range of issues directly relevant to Fairtrade NAPP's advocacy work:

• ASEAN strategies for agriculture, water, and natural capital, alongside dialogues on public-private finance and youth in sustainable food systems. These conversations directly informed Fairtrade NAPP's understanding of emerging regional frameworks and the youth-in-agriculture challenges facing smallholder producer organizations.
• Sessions on nutrition security, responsible value chains, and the climate-food nexus, along with an Eminent Speakers Forum on food and water resilience, offered thought leadership on the long-term stakes for the region.
• A dedicated Pacific Agrifood Investment session, highly relevant to Fairtrade NAPP's work with producer organizations in Fiji and across the Pacific.
• Bilateral conversations and networking throughout the Forum, to build connections and collect knowledge resources for future advocacy work.

Key Takeaways

Fairtrade NAPP's participation yielded several important insights and areas for follow-up:

• ADB country platform launches in Indonesia (Food Systems Investment Platform), the Philippines (Agribusiness Investment Vehicle), and India (Rural Prosperity and Resilience Program) present potential entry points for advocating the inclusion of smallholder producer organizations in project design and consultations.
• Potential partners were identified for collaboration on responsible and sustainable agrifood value chains, and on frameworks related to human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD).
• Forum discussions on youth in food systems validated the urgency of the youth-in-agriculture challenge facing many smallholder producer organizations. Findings will feed into Fairtrade NAPP's ongoing multi-country youth policy review, which aims to produce actionable recommendations that producer organizations can use in advocacy with national governments.
• Sessions on natural capital, nature-based solutions, and low-carbon agriculture reinforced narratives that smallholder producer organizations can use in local and national advocacy, presenting Fairtrade agroecology practices as aligned with international development priorities.
• Fairtrade NAPP's continued presence at forums like AFS2026 contributes to broader recognition of Fairtrade producer cooperatives as legitimate development actors in government and donor engagement at national and regional levels.

In Her Own Words

"Being in the room matters. At AFS2026, I was inspired by high-level plenaries tackling climate risks, water stress, and food insecurity and by the powerful conversations on what it truly takes to feed the future. Hearing from India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Pacific, and PRC on their bold, on-the-ground approaches reminded me that the diversity of solutions across our region is one of our greatest strengths. Listening, learning, and connecting with people who share our commitment to sustainable food systems is empowering."

-Natasha Erika Siaron,
Program Manager for Philippines at Fairtrade NAPP 

What’s Next

Fairtrade NAPP will continue to monitor ADB programs and funding opportunities, with a follow-up planned for May 2026. Work will also advance on the multi-country youth policy review, HREDD positioning, and proactive engagement in regional advocacy spaces to strengthen the case for Fairtrade-aligned standards within Asia-Pacific food systems frameworks.