This publication presents the proceedings a meeting organized and implemented by the Asia & Pacific Seed Association and the Department of Agricultural Extension of the Ministry of Agriculture in Bangkok, Thailand in close collaboration with the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service of the FAO. In line with the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and the World Food Summit Plan of Action, the Meeting recognized that one of the major challenges facing most countries in Asia and the Pacific is the need to invest significant resources into strengthening their capacity to increase the availability of good quality seeds of a wider range of plant varieties. This will contribute to the maximization of both agrobiodiversity and productivity, in order to achieve national food security while reducing environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. The Meeting proposed and agreed to establish a regional seed network to facilitate the exchange of information and expertise among countries and to coordinate policies and programmes designed to strengthen and improve local seed production and distribution systems in Asia and the Pacific. The Seed Network for Asia and the Pacific (SNAP) will facilitate inter-country scientific and technical collaboration on seed production and supply, and promote crop genetic resources evaluation, conservation and utilization in the region.

New evidence this year corroborates the rise in world hunger observed in this report last year, sending a warning that more action is needed if we aspire to end world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. Updated estimates show the number of people who suffer from hunger has been growing over the past three years, returning to prevailing levels from almost a decade ago. Although progress continues to be made in reducing child stunting, over 22 percent of children under five years of age are still affected. Other forms of malnutrition are also growing: adult obesity continues to increase in countries irrespective of their income levels, and many countries are coping with multiple forms of malnutrition at the same time – overweight and obesity, as well as anaemia in women, and child stunting and wasting.

This publication demonstrates the benefits of neglected and underutilized species, including amaranth, sorghum and cowpea, and their potential contribution to achieving Zero Hunger in South and Southeast Asia.