The 2015 APEC High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Blue Economy (HLPD-FSBE) was held in Iloilo, the Philippines, from October 4 to 6. Representative delegations from 18 member economies attended the event. Taiwan was represented by COA’s Fisheries Agency Director-General Tsay, Tzu-yaw, who led the Taiwanese delegation comprised of experts and researchers of this field as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council of Agriculture Department of International Affairs, and Fisheries Agency. In view of this year’s theme “Building Inclusive Economics, Building a Better World”, organizers announced the Plan of Action which promotes food security and blue economy as the event came to a close. 　

　　The COA pointed out that this edition of HLPD-FSBE emphasized on important issues such as food security and blue economy which were much discussed in APEC Ministerial Meetings on Food Security and APEC Oceans-related Ministerial Meetings over the years. In order to reach the goal of ensuring economic growth through sustainable food supply chains, three fundamental issues were brought forth for discussion: 1) blue economy towards sustainable food supply chains for food security; 2) fish loss reduction for increased fish production; and 3) agribusiness development for food security and inclusive growth. 　

Taiwan’s effort in promoting plan of action for regional food security was recognized by member economies 　

　　The COA explained that during HLPD-FSBE, Taiwan delegates gave presentations on the achievements and future plans of the multi-year work project “APEC Strengthening Public-Private Partnership to Reduce Food Losses in the Supply Chain”, which included results from the “APEC 2015 Expert Consultation on Assessment Methodology of Fishery and Livestock Losses” held in Taipei from July 16 to 17, and the “Seminars on Strengthening Public-Private Partnership to Reduce Food Losses in the Supply Chain of Fishery and Livestock” held in Iloilo on September 27 in conjunction with the Philippines and New Zealand. The presentation received positive reviews and feedbacks from representatives of member economies who applauded Taiwan’s efforts in organizing seminars related to reducing of food loss, establishing assessment methodology of food losses, and websites dedicated to food loss reduction. This project serves as a model example of Public-Private Partnership and effectively helps fishermen and small-scale fishery from developing countries to reduce food losses. Moreover, this multi-year project has been incorporated into this edition’s HLPD-FSBE Plan of Action, which denotes its importance and contribution to food security. 　

The importance of aquaculture to food security and the establishment of aquatic product supply chain certification regulation would be a future trend

　　The COA stated that Taiwan spared no effort in stressing the importance of aquaculture to food security in post-APEC HLPD-FSBE Plan of Action meeting. Taiwan emphasized on the concept of integrating production with supply chains and that a certification system for aquatic products would be a crucial development trend in the future for the entire supply chain. The proposal was well-received by representatives of all member economies and was incorporated into the Plan of Action. 　

　　The COA pointed out that Taiwan has always had an active participation in all APEC events and meetings in order to increase the level of international cooperation between Taiwan and the World on issues such as food security, and fishery and ocean resource preservation. The Taiwanese delegation enjoyed a dynamic interaction with other member economies and received positive feedbacks from them when Taiwan presented its proposal on matters being discussed and expressed its contribution to the international community. The productive outcome of this instance secures Taiwan’s fishery benefits as well as paves the road for entering more international organizations besides APEC in the future.