New 2026–2030 cooperation plan to focus on AI-led farming, climate resilience, food safety, value-added processing and agricultural logistics

New Delhi, September 10, 2026: India and ASEAN countries have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in food security, sustainable agriculture, digital innovation and resilient agricultural value chains at the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AIMMAF), held in New Delhi on September 9.

Co-chaired by Philippine Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the meeting placed emphasis on practical, farmer-centric cooperation to address climate change, supply-chain disruptions, agricultural input volatility and evolving food-security challenges.

Key Highlights

• ASEAN and India to advance the ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action for Agriculture and Forestry 2026–2030.
• Cooperation to cover AI, IoT, machine learning and digital agriculture.
• Greater focus on climate-resilient and nutritious crops, low-emission rice and water productivity.
• Joint efforts planned on soil health, bio-inputs, food safety and post-harvest management.
• ASEAN–India cooperation to strengthen trade, investment, market connectivity and resilient agricultural value chains.
• Focus on reducing food loss and waste and promoting circular bioeconomy solutions.
• Value-added processing, preservation technologies and agricultural logistics identified as priority areas.
• Human-resource development, farmer exchanges and inclusive rural enterprises to receive greater attention.
• The next ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry will be held in 2028.

ASEAN–India Agriculture Cooperation Moves Towards 2030

The meeting reviewed progress under the ASEAN–India Medium-Term Plan of Action 2021–2025, which supported cooperation in food security, climate-resilient agriculture, soil management, digitalisation, science and technology, human-resource development and farmer-to-farmer knowledge exchange.

Building on this, the proposed 2026–2030 plan will centre on four broad areas: policy dialogue and resilient value chains; institutional networking and digital innovation; capacity building and joint research; and human-resource development and inclusive rural enterprise.

The approach is aimed at moving cooperation beyond policy discussions towards practical and scalable initiatives that can be adopted by farmers, institutions and businesses.

AI and Digital Agriculture Take Centre Stage

A major area of cooperation will be the use of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things technologies and other emerging digital tools in agriculture and forestry.

The countries identified digital agriculture, smart farming and precision agriculture as important avenues for improving productivity, resource efficiency and farmer access to technology. Greater linkages between research institutions, technology developers, extension services, private companies and farmer organisations are also expected to help accelerate technology adoption.

Climate-Resilient Food Systems and Sustainable Production

Climate change, extreme weather events and volatility in fertiliser, energy and agricultural input markets were highlighted as key risks to regional food systems.

The ASEAN–India cooperation framework will therefore support initiatives around low-emission rice, water productivity, climate-resilient crops, soil health, bio-inputs and sustainable forest management.

The meeting also called for cooperation on alternatives to open crop-residue burning and circular bioeconomy solutions, aligning agricultural growth with environmental sustainability.

From Farm Production to Food Processing and Logistics

For the food sector, one of the most significant areas is the proposed strengthening of post-harvest management, preservation, value-added processing and food logistics.

ASEAN and India will work towards improving market access and connectivity while facilitating the movement and distribution of agricultural and forestry products. Greater cooperation in food processing could also help improve product quality, reduce losses and increase value realisation for producers.

The framework specifically recognises the importance of reducing food loss and waste, an issue with direct relevance to the wider food and hospitality supply chain.

ASEAN–India Millets Cooperation Sets a Precedent

The meeting also highlighted previous initiatives, including the ASEAN–India Millets Festivals held in Jakarta and New Delhi in 2023. The festivals promoted dietary diversification, nutrition and climate-resilient crops.

Another initiative was the ASEAN–India Fellowship for Higher Education in Agriculture and Allied Sciences, launched in 2024, which provides 50 Master’s fellowships over five years for students from ASEAN Member States.

Impact on Hospitality, Food, Travel & Tourism

The expanded agricultural cooperation could have several long-term implications for India’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem:

Food & Beverage: More resilient agricultural supply chains and improved post-harvest systems could support hotels, restaurants and food businesses by strengthening access to agricultural products and processed ingredients.

Farm-to-Table & Sustainable Sourcing: Greater emphasis on climate-resilient crops, soil health and sustainable production can support hotels and restaurants looking to expand responsible and locally sourced menus.

Culinary Tourism: Greater visibility for crops such as millets and other nutritious regional produce can create opportunities for culinary experiences showcasing Indian and ASEAN food traditions.

Agri & Rural Tourism: Farmer exchanges, inclusive rural enterprises and value-added agricultural businesses could strengthen rural tourism experiences linked to farms, food production and local cuisines.

Hospitality Supply Chains: Improved agricultural logistics, market connectivity and post-harvest management can contribute to more efficient movement of food products across markets.

Business Travel & MICE: Continued ASEAN–India institutional cooperation, research exchanges and ministerial-level engagements can generate opportunities for conferences, exhibitions, academic exchanges and business travel.

Industry Takeaway

The 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting signals a shift towards more integrated, technology-driven and resilient food systems across India and Southeast Asia. For hospitality and food businesses, the focus on agricultural logistics, processing, sustainability, food safety and climate-resilient production could gradually strengthen the foundations of the regional food supply chain while opening new opportunities around culinary tourism, sustainable sourcing and agri-based experiences.