Australia at APEC 2026: Food Security & Sustainable Agri-Food Systems

Australian Delegation Advances Food Security and Sustainable Agri-Food Systems at APEC Meetings

February 20, 2026 – Australian officials and private sector representatives concluded a series of meetings at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ Meetings in Guangzhou, China, focusing on strengthening regional partnerships and promoting sustainable agri-food systems.

The Australian delegation, led by Caroline Wardrop, Director of the Multilateral Economic team, included Laura McGrath, Agriculture Counsellor to China, and Ashleigh Thomson, International Forest Policy. Representatives from the Australian private sector also participated, including Julie Bird, Chair of Hort Innovation and Board Member of the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, and Tim Heasley, Jeremy Colless, and Fiona Zheng from Artesian Invest.

Throughout the week-long series of meetings, workshops, and field visits, the delegation focused on reinforcing Australia’s role in promoting sustainable, rules-based, science-driven agri-food systems across the region. A central theme was activating capital to bolster food security, moving beyond policy implementation to practical strategies.

Discussions at the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security centered on strengthening supply chains and supporting both farmers and consumers. According to Tim Heasley, Partner at Artesian, “Many economies are still learning how to engage investors and structure public–private partnerships, and they are looking for practical models to channel investment into startups and technologies that boost agricultural resilience.”

Julie Bird, Chair of Hort Innovation, highlighted the success of Australia’s Research and Development Corporation (RDC) model. “Australia’s RDC model demonstrates what’s possible when producers and government co-invest,” she said. “There was significant APEC interest in how the power of this partnership is turning research into real world impact – strengthening competitiveness, sustainability and confidence across our agri-food systems.”

The delegation also contributed to discussions within the APEC Oceans and Fisheries Working Group, focusing on sustainable growth in oceans and fisheries. This included strengthening regional cooperation, advancing innovation for responsible resource use, and enhancing economic integration among APEC economies.

Australian representatives participated in the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) meeting. Discussions centered on advancing cooperation on legal and sustainable timber trade, aligning with Australia’s ongoing efforts to promote trade in legally harvested forest products and combat illegal logging.

The meetings underscored the growing importance of innovation as a structural enabler of food security and economic resilience. APEC economies are shifting from high-level commitments toward concrete actions to reduce food loss and waste, strengthen supply chains, and scale digital innovation in agriculture. Economies assessed progress across key action areas, including smallholder resilience and disaster preparedness.

According to Han Jizhi, Chair of the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security, “The food security challenges we face are particularly complex, including social, economic and environmental factors. Food insecurity is a global threat that must be addressed with urgency.”

The department anticipates continued participation in APEC meetings throughout 2026, culminating in APEC Leaders’ Week in November.