Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies adopted on Tuesday principles aimed at strengthening the resilience of food systems through innovation and digitalization, as extreme weather, supply chain disruptions and rising production costs pose growing challenges to agriculture across the region.

　　The Joint Statement on the 11th APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting and the Principles for Strengthening Food Systems Resilience in the APEC Region through Innovation and Digitalization were adopted at the meeting in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province.

　　According to officials at the meeting, the principles call for the greater use of innovation and digital technologies to strengthen food systems, improve agricultural productivity and help economies respond to risks, including those posed by extreme weather.

　　Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong emphasized that APEC plays a pivotal role in maintaining global food security. He added that China is willing to work with other economies to jointly build a more robust food security system.

　　Liu called for stronger innovation-driven efforts and deeper agricultural science and technology cooperation to jointly cultivate new ways of safeguarding food security.

　　Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, said that food security has become one of the defining challenges.

　　"Extreme weather, supply chain disruptions and rising fertilizer and fuel costs are all adding uncertainty for farmers, rural communities, producers, and consumers in an interconnected region," Pedrosa said.