As countries across Asia face increasing pressure from climate change and market disruptions, Bhutan is working to strengthen its agri-food sector. The Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum, BATIF, will return for its second edition this May. The Agriculture and Livestock Minister announced this at the 38th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific held in Brunei on Thursday.
Irregular rainfall, hailstorms and severe weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, especially in Asia.
Just a few days ago, several districts across Bhutan reported extreme weather events, with Monggar and Tsirang reporting largescale damage to crops and properties.
It is in such times that platforms like the Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum play a key role in building more resilient food systems by attracting investments.
Addressing agriculture ministers and vice ministers from 46 countries, the Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Younten Phuntsho, extended invitations to international partners to take part in the upcoming Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum.
“Inspired by FAO’s flagship Hand-in-Hand Initiative, Bhutan will host the Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum 2.0- a platform to turn our agricultural potential into tangible investments, strategic partnerships, and expanded market opportunities. Therefore, I invite partners to join us, because investing in agriculture is investing in dignity, stability, and the future of our nations.”
The first Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum, held in May 2024, brought together over 130 international and local participants. The forum attracted at least four international companies for direct collaboration in the agri-food sector.
The minister highlighted that Bhutan bears the burden of climate change despite its minimal contribution to it. Calling for a stronger collaboration, the minister emphasised the need to respond, adapt and act with urgency.
“No country can do this alone. Climate change, markets, and diseases certainly do not respect borders. And therefore, our response cannot stop at our borders. Hence, Bhutan calls for stronger regional cooperation in six critical areas: deeper collaboration, smarter climate adaptation, fairer trade systems, greater access to finance, faster digital innovation, and a stronger One Health approach because only through collective action can we secure the future of our farmers and the food systems that sustain us all.”
The Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum comes at a time when many Asian countries are facing a growing agricultural crisis driven by climate change, raising concerns over food security and sustainability across the region.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Phub Gyem
