President Urges ASEAN to Strengthen Food Resilience Against El Niño
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reminded ASEAN countries of the threats from climate change and the potential for extreme El Niño events that could disrupt regional food production. In his speech at the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, on Friday (8 May 2026), Prabowo assessed food resilience as an urgent issue amid rising global uncertainties.
The President urged ASEAN countries to strengthen regional cooperation in the food sector. This includes developing agricultural technology, food diversification, and bolstering the regional food reserve system through the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR).
“We have been warned by international organisations about the risk of extreme El Niño looming ahead. In this situation, food resilience becomes increasingly urgent,” said Prabowo, quoted on Sunday (10 May 2026).
According to the Indonesian President, the threat of a food crisis cannot be handled by one country alone. He views that ASEAN needs to build stronger synergy to maintain regional food supply stability amid climate threats and potential production disruptions.
Prabowo assessed that strengthening local food reserves is an important step to enhance ASEAN countries’ preparedness in facing various future food crisis threats.
“This is not a challenge that can be handled by one country alone. ASEAN must act together,” he stated.
In the forum, Prabowo affirmed that food is the main foundation for a nation’s sustainability. According to him, the agricultural and food sector cannot be seen merely as an economic matter because it directly relates to stability, independence, and peace.
The Indonesian government, said Prabowo, is committed to strengthening national food sovereignty through support for the agricultural sector and favouring farmers. He emphasised that the state must be strongly present in safeguarding the food sector.
“Without food, essentially there is no society. Without food, there is no independence. Without food, there is no peace,” he remarked.
Prabowo also affirmed that the government has a central role in ensuring food resilience remains maintained. According to him, the agricultural sector cannot be fully handed over to market mechanisms.
“Food resilience is about government leadership and government intervention. Indonesia does not believe that agriculture should only be handed over to the private sector,” he stressed.
In line with President Prabowo’s directive, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to accelerate various strategic steps to strengthen national food resilience. These steps are carried out through increasing production, optimising land, improving irrigation, modernising agriculture, and strengthening government food reserves.