ASEAN for Business – ASEAN Regional Guidelines for Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the key industries in ASEAN, with 8 out of 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) dependent on the agricultural industry. ASEAN is a major producer and exporter of palm oil, crude rubber, rice, sugar, seafood, and fruits. In 2021, the region produced 150,43 million tons of rice, 42,08 million tons of maise, 14,29 million tons of sugar, and 0,74 million tons of soybean. However, the agriculture sector has been perceived as one of the drivers of land degradation and emission, and at the same, one of the most vulnerable sectors to the adverse impact of climate change. Climate and weather characteristics such as rainfall, water resource, temperature, and carbon dioxide (CO2) directly influence the health of plants and agriculture production. Studies estimated that rice yield in Southeast Asia might decrease by up to 50% because of floods, droughts, and heat stress.
