Keynote address of Dr. Virginia Cardenas during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Agricultural Technology Transfer Forum held on 23-25 November 2011 in Beijing, ROC

First, let me congratulate the ACTWG for having established as necessary and urgent this forum on strengthening agricultural technology transfer for food security with the pressing issues on climate change and food security among APEC member countries as its focus. Climate change threatens to increase hunger and malnutrition in the region. Its harsh effects including worsening coastal erosion, floods, drought, and storm surges are reducing crop production for both commercial and subsistence farmers.