ANKARA

Agriculture ministers from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member countries will meet in South Korea this weekend to discuss measures to bolster food security in the region, local media reported Monday.

The meeting will take place Sunday in Incheon, west of Seoul, under the theme "Driving Innovation in Agri-food Systems for Shared Prosperity," Yonhap News Agency reported, citing South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry.

Ministers from the 21 APEC member countries including the US, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and Russia are expected to attend the meeting to discuss strategies for bolstering food security in the Asia-Pacific region.

"As concerns over food security are growing amid the climate crisis and global supply chain disruptions, it is especially meaningful for South Korea, a nation at the forefront of agricultural innovation, to engage in discussions on food security cooperation with APEC member economies," Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung said in a statement.

This year's meeting will also explore ways to harness artificial intelligence (AI) technology to drive agricultural innovation and respond to challenges posed by climate change and supply chain instability.

South Korea will also host various working-level meetings from Wednesday to Saturday to discuss APEC's road map for strengthening regional food security by 2030 along with related issues.