Leveraging Renewable Energy for Resilient Food Systems through South–South and Triangular Cooperation (HLPF 2026 Side Event)

Good afternoon. Thank you very much, everyone. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon to all of you. It is my pleasure to welcome you to today's session on Leveraging Renewable Energy for Resilient Food Systems Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation. And a warm welcome to those with us here and all of us here gathering here in New York. My name is Yoko Watanabe. I'm the Director of Nature and Environment at Asian Development Bank. It is a real pleasure today to be your moderator for this really important session. I'd like to, first of all, thank the government of Indonesia and, in particular, the Ministry of National Development Planning, BAPNAS, together with the Government of Germany and GIZ and our partners, the PT Pertamina and PLN, and for convening this discussion and for inviting ADB to be your partner to moderate it. Today's discussion is not really a theoretical one. We meet at a time when we realize that the global food and energy systems are facing unprecedented challenges. And rising energy prices, supply chain disruption, climate change, and increasing water stress have demonstrated how closely our energy, food, and water systems are interconnected. And when energy systems become vulnerable, the food systems are often the first to feel the impact. At the same time, these challenges present an opportunity. Renewable energy is no longer only about reducing emissions. It has become a practical solution for strengthening food security, improving agriculture productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and build more resilient community and society. So the challenge before us is no longer whether these solutions work, but how we can scale them. And through stronger policies, innovative financing, technology transfer, and importantly, international partnerships. So ADB, we're working on both sides of that nexus of food and energy, and we're scaling a $40 billion food system transformation agenda through 2030. Indonesia is part of that through the Indonesia Food System Investment Platform. On the energy side, ADB has launched a $50 billion Pan-Asia Power Grid initiative to build the cross-border infrastructure that moves renewable energy across borders at scale. So what do we hope to take out from this next 75 minutes of this session? So probably there are 3 things. So sharing practical solutions, and this includes not only successes, but what we have learned and what we can learn from both challenges and successes. And then second, we can also discuss about how we mobilize investment and the different financial instruments. Thirdly, very importantly, the theme of today's session about strengthening partnerships through South-South and triangular cooperation. In every region, we are generating valuable experiences and practical innovation on this topic. Today, we're having really distinguished speakers, from policymakers to development partners, and we're really looking forward to concrete recommendations for scaling renewable energy solutions that support resilient systems, food systems. So with that, it is my great honor and pleasure to invite His Excellency, Mr. Fabian Alfanto Rudiard, the Vice Minister of National Development Planning of the Republic of Indonesia, to deliver the opening remarks. Excellency. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Yukio. Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I think it's a great pleasure to welcome all of you. Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to our distinguished speaker, partners, and participants for joining us today. Throughout history, every civilization has been shaped by 2 fundamental questions: how do we produce energy and how do we feed our people? And the answer has always determined whether society prospered or declined. And today, those same questions have returned with a greater urgency. Only this time, they are unfolding in a world challenged by climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing pressure on natural resources. And this means the challenge before us is no longer simply producing more energy or more food. It is about building systems that can deliver both securely, sustainably, and equitably. That is why I think this conversation matters. Ladies and gentlemen, for many years, development was organized in a silo. Energy belongs to one institution, agriculture belongs to another, and water belongs somewhere else. Yet communities never experience development in sectors; they experience it as one reality. Development succeeds not when sectors perform well individually; it succeeds when they work together. The future will not belong to countries with the best individual policy. It will belong to those that connect policies into one coherent system, and renewable energy is one of the clearest examples of that transformation. It is not simply an environmental solution; it is an economic solution, a food security solution, a rural development solution, and I believe above all, a human development solution. Solar-powered irrigation increases productivity. Renewable-powered cold storage reduces food loss. Bioenergy transforms agricultural waste into economic value. And together, these innovations strengthen resilience, improve livelihoods, and expand opportunity. For developing countries, this is the true meaning of the energy transition. Not merely reducing emissions, but creating development that is cleaner, more productive, and more inclusive. Because a successful transition should not be measured only by the carbon we avoid. It should also be measured by the opportunities we create, the livelihoods we improve, and the hope we restore. Ladies and gentlemen, Indonesia is pursuing this approach by integrating water, energy, and food into one development framework, not because integration is fashionable, but because reality leaves us no alternative. The challenges are connected, therefore our solutions must also be connected. Yet no country can accomplish this transformation alone. Every nation has a lesson worth sharing, every nation has innovation worth adapting, and every nation has experiences worth learning from. And this is why South-South and triangular cooperation is becoming increasingly important. Its greatest value is not merely the transfer of technology. Its greatest value is the creation of trust, trust-building through shared experience, shared realities, and shared aspiration for a better future. When trust is combined with investment, innovation, and long-term partnership, Cooperation becomes more than assistance. It becomes a force of transformation. As we look beyond 2030, one lesson is becoming increasingly clear: the next chapter of development will not be written by countries acting alone. It will be written by countries that collaborate, that connect knowledge with action, innovation with inclusion, growth with sustainability, and ambition with solidarity. Because in the end, development is not about building stronger sectors, it's about building stronger societies. It's about expanding human dignity and it's about leaving no one behind. With that spirit, I wish you a productive and inspiring discussion and thank you so much.

Well, thank you very much, Vice Minister Urdiard, for really setting out the scene and also really bringing in that integration and cooperation to the center of the discussion. Thank you very much for that. We would now turn to 2 short videos from our co-organizers and partners. The first is a video message from Mr. Frank Stegmueller of GIZ Indonesia and ASEAN on renewable energy solutions for food systems on the ground. Please play the video.

Life without ice is impossible for these Indonesian handline fishers. Keeping fish cool so close to the equator is a daily struggle. But there's a new solar-powered innovation That's supporting livelihoods in Kawamaluku, a rural part of Indonesia. The race to keep this tuna cold and fresh starts as soon as it's caught. Fishers risk losing income if they can't keep their catch close to 0 degrees Celsius while at sea. They can earn nearly 3 times as much for high-quality yellowfin tuna sold internationally. But small-scale fisheries in remote areas Don't have reliable access to electricity or refrigeration. Ice is vital for fishers working long days in these tropical conditions.

Tantangan yang selalu kami hadapi di karna es yang dibuat di produksi di rumah sendiri itu mudah cair sering mati nak kalori saat di strik mati kami nelayan ke sulitan untuk mendapatkan es. Di terkadang kami harus cari ke rumah rumah ke kampu ke desa-desa tetangga.

Indonesia has a coastline of 100,000 kilometers. We have lots of very remote places such as Kawah, and usually what is typically to be found there is that often these places lack proper access to a stable electricity supply. They might have grid access, but it might not be enough to run cooling equipment and large cold storages or ice factories. We need to reduce post-harvest losses. We see that 40% of fish catch is lost after it's being harvested in Indonesia. A steady supply of ice helps fishers access critical, lucrative export markets. and improves food security. It also reduces carbon emissions and provides a scalable way to improve livelihoods. This project is a collaboration between local communities and key partners. We use solar energy from a solar photovoltaic system that is then converting power to a cooling system when the sunshine is there and ready to be used. Then it converts this energy into an ice generator. We store most of the energy in salt water that we can cool down below zero degrees, so we can save and store up to 5 tons of ice there in that container. Local fishers are also being trained in cold chain protocols and handling practices to make sure they meet rigorous hygiene standards in high-value markets.

We've also invested time in upskilling community members to actually help run and maintain the ice maker into the future. It's not just about the technological innovation, it's also about empowering and upskilling the fishers.

Working closely with communities and international partners is essential to the project's success.

So this idea of a solar-powered ice maker really was something that we were excited about. It was a game changer. My vision would be that we would be able to replicate this to other remote remote areas where artisanal fishers are able to fish in a way that's much more harmonious with the ecosystems, not just in Indonesia, but across the Pacific, across the Caribbean, across all of the SIDS in Africa. It's been absolutely wonderful working with the International Pole and Line Foundation because they're really working very much like UNDP with local communities.

So we wanted to make sure that our innovations innovation that is 100% greenhouse gas emission-free ice factory is also coupled with the most sustainable catch methods, small-scale fisheries and line fisheries here in Indonesia. Indonesia is the 2nd largest fish producer in the world. It's the world's biggest tuna producer. 90% of all the fishers are small-scale fishers and they produce about 50% of Indonesia's catch and overall production. So these are very important for Indonesia's economy. My hope is that this really is a lighthouse project and can really signal the future here, not only Indonesia, but to fisheries in the world, how we can really decarbonize cold chains, how we can decarbonize supply chains and make sustainable fishery products more competitive in the market and support small-scale fisheries.

Great, thank you very much. So we saw how technology and sustainable fisheries initiative can and really support local economy as well as national sort of food security. So this is really great. We're now moving forward with a joint video presentation from Indonesia's state-owned energy enterprises, Pertamina and the PLN, on their sustainability and energy transition work. Please play the video.

Distinguished delegates of the High-Level Political Forum, ladies and gentlemen. This year's theme reminds us that renewable energy is not only essential for decarbonization. For countries like Indonesia, the transition is about more than reducing emissions. It is a development challenge. To put this into perspective, Indonesia is home to more than 280 million people across over 17,000 islands. As one of the world's largest archipelagic nations, our growing economy continues to drive increasing energy demand. For us, the transition is not simply about replacing one energy source with another. It is about balancing 3 equally important priorities: energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability— the energy trilemma. These priorities are reflected in Indonesia's National Development Agenda and our commitment toward net-zero emissions by 2060 or earlier. Operating across Indonesia's entire energy value chain, we are committed to delivering innovative energy solutions that create lasting value for society. To turn this into action, we have adopted what we call the dual growth strategy. First, we continue strengthening our legacy businesses to ensure reliable and affordable energy supply while safeguarding Indonesia's energy security. At the same time, we are building scalable, low-carbon businesses that will become new engines of sustainable growth, from biofuels and geothermal energy to hydrogen, solar energy, and nature-based solutions. As well as testing new technologies like carbon capture and electric vehicles. This balanced approach enables us to meet today's energy needs while building a cleaner and more resilient energy system for tomorrow. Our transition begins with transforming our own operations. In 2025 alone, Pertamina achieved emission reduction of more than 2.27 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, exceeding our annual target. These achievements demonstrate that decarbonization is not only an environmental responsibility, it also strengthens operational excellence, improves efficiency and enhances long-term business resilience. While reducing emissions today, we are also investing in the businesses that will power Indonesia's future. In biofuels, for example, Pertamina continues expanding biodiesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and bioethanol to strengthen national energy security. We are also accelerating geothermal development, unlocking one of Indonesia's greatest renewable energy advantages. We also continue advancing carbon capture and storage, carbon market development, hydrogen, and nature-based solutions. As a country that generates around 3 million kiloliters of used cooking oil every year. We see a significant opportunity to transform this waste into a valuable renewable resource. This is closely aligned with our government's ambitious Sustainable Efficient Fuel, or SEF, roadmap, which targets 1% of SEF blending by 2027. Looking ahead, our refinery in Celacap is also expected to evolve into a dedicated biorefinery by 2029, capable of processing UCO and other sustainable feedstocks into SAF and other cleaner fuels. Distinguished delegates, the energy transition cannot be achieved by one company or one country alone. It requires partnerships that bring together governments, industries, financial institutions, technology providers, and communities. At Pertamina, we are committed to being part of that collective effort. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Pertamina. And now followed by PLN.

Good afternoon to all the distinguished participants attending the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2026. The energy transition is not simply a climate agenda, it is a development agenda. Our goal is to deliver affordable, reliable, and clean electricity while supporting economic growth and improving people's quality of life. In this context, PLN's role extends beyond providing electricity. We are committed to advancing SDG 7 by expanding access to affordable and clean energy while simultaneously contributing to SDG 13 through the decarbonization of Indonesia's power sector. To achieve this, PLN has developed an accelerated renewable energy development pathway toward net-zero emissions by 2060. This commitment is reflected in Indonesia's latest Electricity Supply Business Plan, or RUPTL, outlining around 76% of new generation capacity is allocated to renewable energy and energy storage. Until this very moment, PLN supports Indonesia's NDC, contributing to the emission reduction of 153 million tonnes accumulated from 2020 Through NDC and Beyond NDC initiative. NDC initiatives include renewable energy, biomass co-firing, clean coal technology, and gas expansions. Beyond NDC initiatives include biofuel, energy efficiency, rooftop solar, and EV ecosystem. Today, our progress is measured by implementations. PRN has continued to expand renewable energy development while strengthening Sustainability governance and mobilizing more than $15 billion in international financing. Renewable energy certificates, 17.43 terawatt-hours, and carbon market initiatives have also helped create stronger demand for clean electricity and support climate actions. But beyond these numbers, the true success of the energy transition lies in how electricity improves people's lives as the electrification of Indonesia has reached 99.83%. One of PLN's flagship programs is electrifying agriculture by transitioning irrigation from diesel-powered pumps to electric pumps. Farmers gain access to more affordable, reliable, and efficient energy, resulting in lower operating costs and higher agricultural productivity. Over the past 5 years, the program has helped avoid approximately $182 million in diesel fuel costs, delivering tangible economic benefits to farming communities. At the same time, it supports Indonesia's vision of achieving energy independence by reducing reliance on diesel fuel and maximizing the use of domestically produced electricity to strengthen agricultural resilience and national food security. Collaboration is crucial to deploy this program nationwide. PRN works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and the third-party associations to identify potential customers and expand program implementation. Through this collaboration approach, electricity sales in agricultural sector are expected to contribute an additional 75 gigawatt-hours of electricity sales by the end of 2026 while delivering tangible social and environmental benefits. Ultimately, the energy transition is not only about decarbonizing the power sector. It is about creating inclusive economic opportunities, strengthening resilience, and achieving sustainable development. By working together and sharing knowledge, we can turn ambitions into actions and deliver a cleaner, more prosperous Future for all. Our job today is to provide the electricity. Our job tomorrow is to take care of the environment. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Permina and PLN, for the delivering of the video messages and highlighting on the renewable energy transition and clean energy. So thank you very much for that. So now let us move on to have a panel discussion. Today, we really have an exciting lineup of speakers. We have 4 governments and then 3 UN partners. We have Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, China, and India. We will be having quick questions so that the panelists can respond to those. Please respect the timeframe because we are running out short of time. and we'll move on to a question and answer session if at all possible. Thank you very much. The first panelist, Mr. Reynaldo Adipurmanah Sambodo, the Deputy for Food Affairs, Natural Resources and Environment at Indonesia's BAPENAS. Please elaborate on how you're working on the food-energy nexus and also how the state-owned enterprises are turning successes pilots into system change in South-South cooperation? How is that working? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Moderator. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, building on the Vice Minister remark and the 2 videos just watched from Pelenn and Pertamina, Indonesia would like to offer a concrete operational perspective on leveraging renewable energy for food security across the Global South. Our core message is simple, that decoupling food systems from volatile fossil fuels is no longer only an environmental aspiration, it is a national security imperative. Indonesia has therefore moved beyond energy access thinking and now treats energy as primary agricultural input on par with water, land, and seeds. To operationalize this shift, we have institutionalized the water-energy-food nexus as a central pillar of our planning architecture. This is a game changer in our national long-term development plan and further detailed in our medium-term development roadmap. In practice, this means major food security infrastructure, from irrigation network to food estate and logistic hubs, must be planned with water, energy, and food together, not in isolated silos. This is also applied to our plan to the state-owned enterprises. On the ground, PLN has mentioned about their project in the province like East Nusa Tenggara, where we deployed off-grid solar-powered irrigation to replace diesel pumps for smallholders, rice and maize farmers. Farmers are no longer exposed to diesel price spikes and can irrigate more predictably, predictable, despite erratic rainfall. This is a climate-vulnerable province in Indonesia. Another example is through our village fund and village-owned enterprises. Local governments are also piloting bioenergy systems that convert rice husks and livestock manure into electricity and biogas for community meals, while producing organic fertilizer that reduces dependence on imported chemical inputs. When renewable energy is structurally linked to smallholder value chains, food systems become more resilient economically and climatically. That said, our experience also reveals implementation realities many Global South partners will recognize. First, a persistent capital and credit gap. Upfront investment for solar cold storage and biomass digesters remains high, and smallholder farmers and cooperatives often lack the collateral or credit history for conventional financing. Second, a rural technical deficit showing that without local technicians or accessible spare parts, infrastructure risks abandonment and trust in new technology erodes. Indonesia is therefore focusing not only on technology, but on finance skills and governance, designing blended structures wherein concessional capital and guarantees lower risk for rural financing, and integrating renewable energy maintenance and nexus thinking into capacity building for local governments, communities, and state-owned enterprises. This is where South-South and triangular cooperation becomes a critical accelerator. Through regional agricultural training centers, we can share and learn together among Global South, This is supported, for example, by Indonesian aid, including in Pacific Island countries, where we provide hands-on training in climate resilience farming and clean energy. Through the Non-Aligned Movement Center for South-South Technical Cooperation in Jakarta, Indonesian experts also work with technicians and entrepreneurs from Africa and Asia on biomass processing, solar drying, and conservation agriculture. This partnership has also taught us the value of local ownership, the skills needed to sustain systems over time, and integrated financing that treats energy for irrigation, drying, and cold storage as part of food security investment itself. Looking ahead, Indonesia proposes 3 practical directions for partners to scale up. First, anchor the energy-food-water nexus in national development plans through clear inter-ministerial mandates. Second, institutionalize community-led ownership of renewable energy assets. And third, develop shared South-South curricula and digital platforms so cleantech operations, nexus planning, and agrifood logistics can be taught consistently across the Global South. In closing, Indonesia's domestic reforms and international cooperation are aligned around one goal: Moving from scattered pilots into integrated, locally-led, financially viable systems that can be replicated and scaled. Thank you.

Well, thank you very much, Mr. Sambodo, for this very comprehensive intervention and how the renewable energy policy is integrated into national planning and also South-South cooperation, as you articulated. So now it's a pleasure to move to the next panelist, Dr. Nawal Al-Hosseini, the prominent representative of the UAE, United Arab Emirates, to Irina. The floor is yours.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Moderator, and thank you very much everybody for having me in this very important panel. So, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, We all know very well that food security and energy security are increasingly inseparable. Building resilient food systems requires us to recognize the closed interlinkage between energy, water, and agriculture, and to accelerate integrated solutions that strengthen all 3. For the United Arab Emirates, this is not simply a policy ambition; it is a necessity. As an arid country that imports more than 80% of our food, we have made renewable energy a cornerstone of our efforts to build a more resilient, sustainable, and self-reliant food system. Renewable energy is enabling a new generation of agriculture solutions. Solar-powered controlled environment agriculture, including Vertical farms and advanced greenhouses allow year-round food production while reducing operating costs and emissions. Initiatives such as Dubai FoodTech Valley are bringing together innovation, renewable energy, and technology to strengthen local food production and improve long-term food security. At an international level, the UAE is equally committed to supporting vulnerable communities. Together with IRENA, we launched the Empowering Lives and Livelihoods: Renewables for Climate Action initiatives at COP28. This program aims to strengthen climate resilience by transforming agri-food and health value chains through renewable energy, helping communities adapt while creating new economic opportunities. We also believe that innovation must be nurtured at every level. For more than 15 years, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has supported pioneering solutions in energy, food, health, water, and climate action, as well as empowering young innovators around the world. It reflects our conviction that water, energy, food, nexus can only be addressed through cross-sector collaboration and practical innovation. Renewable energy for us is more than a source of clean power. It is an enabler of resilient food systems, sustainable livelihoods, and inclusive development. As we work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, let us continue to invest in integrated solutions strengthen partnerships, and scale innovation that delivers food security, climate resilience, and sustainable prosperity for all. Thank you, Your Excellencies.

Thank you very much, Dr. Al-Hosseini, for this very inspiring talk about the real nexus between water, energy, and food. Now, moving from Indonesia to UAE, now we're shifting to China. Mr. Wu Jikai, Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations. Mr. Wu, can you share also from China's perspective how you're deploying renewable energy and how you are promoting the South-South cooperation in China?

Okay. Baba Rudiak and Yuko-san, I'm very happy to join this discussion. First and foremost, I welcome Excellency Tjau Langdis from Jakarta, also from Manila. And as a former consumer of Patamina, I'm pleased to watch the video introduction. It's a very happy moment. All discussion on how energy security affects food security I think the most critical issue is that the one that requires the most dedicated effort to address is the deep linkage between fossil fuel price and food price. It's a strong linkage triggered by the conflict in the Middle East this year. The energy supply and the price crisis has once again highlighted the urgency of tackling this issue. The application of renewable energy in food production supply and value chain offers us part of the solution. China has gained some experience in this regard, so I share 3 points. The first, in agriculture production, we use solar PV panel for power generation and promote solar-powered pumping for irrigation. These approaches are particularly suitable for remote mountain areas and special terrains. Developing biomass energy not only generates electricity but also produces organic fertilizer. This reduces reliance on high-energy-consuming chemical fertilizer, thereby easing the pressure of rising fertilizer costs. by the natural gas price hikes. The second, the agriculture cultivation. We promote the use of agriculture machinery powered by green new energy. According to experience in some areas of China, compared to traditional diesel-powered agriculture machinery, electric agriculture machinery reduce energy and maintenance cost by approximately 80%. China is also vigorously promoting electric fishing vessels in coastal provinces. I just also see the picture from Maluku, and this is the same happened in China. And according to local fishermen, daily energy cost for offshore fishing has been reduced by about half.

Thank you. Half percent.

The third is storage and transportation. We built solar PV-powered food storage warehouse. This not only saves electricity cost but also allows for the precise regulation of storage and transport environments, significantly reducing loss during storage and transit. For example, In my hometown, Shandong Province, the major source of garlic imported by Indonesia, the use of smart cold storage has reduced storage cost by 60%. I think this is a benefit to both Chinese and Indonesian consumers. New energy heavy-duty trucks and electric refrigerated vehicles have also been widely deployed for transportation grain, fresh produce, and other food products. These have not only significantly reduced freight costs but have also promoted cross-regional circulation of agricultural products, enhancing the overall resilience of the food supply chain in China. China currently handles 550 million express deliveries each day, with green food delivery accounting for a large proportion. Such a vast logistic network has been made possible to a large extent by the extensive application of green energy in warehousing and transportation. I think there are only a few examples— this is only a few examples of how renewable energy has strengthened the resilience of China's food system. There are still many more. While these examples are drawn from China's own experience, I believe Indonesia and many other countries have also your valuable practice under different circumstances, as just showed by the video. And China is ready to learn from your countries as well. And we believe that food is the first necessity of the people. Ensuring food security is top priority for each and every country. In President Xi's statement at the general debate of the UN General Assembly of 2021, he proposed the Global Development Initiative. Green development and food security are 2 of its 8 priority areas. Over the past 5 years, China earnestly implemented the initiative and carried out extensive project cooperation through bilateral channels in partnership with United Nations agencies, achieving tangible results. For example, China and UNIDO have carried out a complementary hydro-solar power generation technology project in Indonesia. China and FAO4 implemented solar-powered irrigation demonstration project in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Under the framework of GDI, China stands ready to work with all countries and United Nations agencies to expand trilateral and multilateral cooperation, focus on practical actions and tangible results, promote common development, and contribute to achievements so UN

Well, thank you very much, Mr.

Wu, for really sharing great examples, and particularly the South-South cooperation and China's support to the region on different technologies and food system value chain development. Thank you very much for that. The final speaker from the government side, it's a pleasure to introduce Mr. Eldos Matthew Pinos, who is the counselor at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York. The floor is yours.

Hi, thank you, Madam Moderator, Excellency, fellow panelists, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. So, uh, I think I'll focus my intervention on 3 specific aspects. Number one is, uh, India's experience with the decentralized use of renewable energy solutions. Number 2, scaling up of these solutions and the role of digital tools and public-private sector partnership. And number 3 is India's development partnership experience and South-South cooperation, how this could be of relevance to the developing world, I mean, to the larger Global South. So I'll start with the first. So India's experience with the decentralized use of renewable energy, I think it shows that, I mean, it is most effective when it is viewed not only as an energy solution, but as an enabler of rural development. Please allow me to give a specific example. So we have a scheme called PM KUSUM, that's the acronym, PM KUSUM. So that is a solar-powered irrigation scheme for the farmers. Now, its successful implementation has resulted in reduced dependence of farmers on diesel, lowered input costs, and improved access to reliable irrigation. Now, we have successfully implemented similar decentralized renewable energy solutions in other fields also to support cold storage, food processing, other rural enterprises, etc. These have resulted in post-harvest— in reducing post-harvest losses while also strengthening the local value chains and livelihoods. So if there is one broad lesson that we could draw from our experience, is that renewable energy creates the greatest impact when it is integrated across the entire food system rather than when it is deployed in isolation. That brings me to the second point, that is scaling up of these solutions. I think scaling up definitely needs an enabling ecosystem. Public policy provides the foundation, but digital tools and private sector participation are equally important. In this context, I would like to dwell a little bit about our experience, our successful experience with our digital public infrastructure framework. Now, what this has done for us is to deliver targeted support and expand financial inclusion. For farmers, this means connecting with advisory services, weather information, markets, and digital payments. Now, this is not limited only to farmers alone. What this has also achieved is basically forging numerous startups, and also establishing cooperatives and aiding local entrepreneurs to develop innovative business models that make decentralized renewable energy technologies more accessible and commercially viable. Together, these elements help move successful pilots towards sustainable scale. Third is how our development experience could be of benefit to others. First of all, I think I'll emphasize a little bit on our overall approach towards development partnership. We believe that development partnership is most effective when it is demand-driven, when we deliver projects, when we implement projects as per the priorities of the local government, as per the needs of the local population. That is a guiding philosophy that we have. And under that framework, we have different models of development cooperation. For example, we have a dedicated capacity-building module called India Technical and Economic Cooperation Program. We have also the better-known concessional lines of financing, the Grand Projects Model. We have also other models like the International Solar Alliance. But in the context of the United Nations, I would like to highlight about the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. This is a fund that endeavors to deliver projects for the Global South, for the developing countries, in multiple sectors as per the priorities of our partner countries. We have so far started projects in more than 60 countries, a total of more than 90 projects what we have achieved. Now, our objective in our development partnership has been to share practical experience, build local capacity, and support countries in adapting, not simply replicating, solutions that work in their own context. So there again, I mean, the lesson that we have learned is that there is no universal model. Technologies may be transferable, but implementation might must always reflect local conditions, institutions, and community needs. One practical way forward would be to strengthen South-South platforms for exchanging operational experience, not only on technologies, but also on policy design, financing models, digital innovation, and implementation challenges. I think developing countries taken as a whole, we have accumulated a lot of valuable experience. And there is so much we can learn from one another through structured peer-to-peer cooperation. India looks forward to working with partners to translate these experiences into practical collaborations that strengthen food-energy-water nexus and accelerates progress towards SDGs. I thank you, Madam Moderator.

Thank you very much, Mr. Pinos, for really highlighting the demand-drivenness and also country context, and really using digital technology as well as private sector engagement in putting together the renewable energy for food security. Thank you really very much. Now, after hearing the government's perspective, now we're moving towards a panel from the UN organizations. I have the pleasure of inviting Ms. Deema Al-Khatib, the Director of United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. Dima, the floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Madam Moderator, Excellencies, and distinguished colleagues. Let me start by thanking the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for convening this extremely timely dialogue together with the partners, GIZ and Indonesia and ASEAN. Indonesia's leadership in South-South cooperation, sustainable agriculture, and the energy transition makes it an especially fitting convener for such a critical discussion. Let me start by a central message, that energy security is food security. Agri-food systems account for about 30% of the global energy use, and 70% of that is consumed beyond the farm gate, in processing, transport, storage, and marketing. Renewable energy can therefore lower costs, protect cold chains, improve water access reduce food loss, and strengthen rural livelihood. The challenge is no longer a lack of technology. Proven solutions, as rightly said, exist across the Global South. What is missing is a pathway from country demand to an adapted solution, to partners and finance, implementation and replication. Here, South-South and Triangle Cooperation can definitely provide the pathway. This is the direction set by our strategic framework at the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation for the 4 years to come, 2026 to 2029, as well as the United Nations System-Wide Strategy on South-South and Triangle Cooperation for the same period, for which we are the custodians. With our framework, we definitely intend to focus on an integrated approach to elevate South-South and Triangle cooperation through policy, knowledge, and catalytic finance. Here, a special thanks goes to many of our southern partners, India being one, South Africa, Brazil, China, a long-standing partner, among others. With the strategy, the UN Strategy on South-South Cooperation, which has been developed in close collaboration with the more than 30 United Nations entities, it helps to also position South-South and triangular cooperation as core modalities of United Nations support. It prioritizes climate action, green transitions, innovative finance, digital transformation, and inclusive development, and calls for stronger mainstreaming, joint action, and accountability across the United Nations system. Allow me, Excellencies, to share a few— 4 practical points for this discussion. First, as mentioned, to be demand-driven. Countries are to define the problem and the results they seek. It could be reliable irrigation, fewer post-harvest losses, safe water in saline areas, or lower energy costs for fisheries. We as an office, we do help governments and the UN country teams map their demands. They identify the relevant southern expertise, convene public, technical, financial, and private sector partners, and shape implementation-ready proposals.

Proposals.

Second, to make solutions visible, comparable, and usable. Our platform, what we call the South-South Galaxy+, connects documented solutions with providers, institutions, experts, capacity development opportunities, financing mechanisms, and data. Its AI-enabled tools and functionalities can support a journey from articulating demand to identifying comparable experiences, assessing contextual fit and connecting with partners able to support the adaptation. The question is not simply what exists, it's what worked and under which conditions and who can help us to adapt it. And the third is to move to matchmaking, to delivery, and to scaling. And in September of this year, we intend on the UN Day for South-South Cooperation to launch what we call the Global Alliance on South-South and Triangle Cooperation. Cooperation, which is a multi-stakeholder platform that will connect country priorities with expertise, partnership, and catalytic support. It will be hosted under the Galaxy Plus, and it will be hopefully a key turn in promising match into joint action. And fourth, the design and adaptation and scale from the outset. And here I want to share our joint project, which is in partnership with the Republic of Korea. That offers a concrete triangular cooperation example for the water, energy, and food nexus. It has been implemented in 4 countries around the Mekong River, and it has helped communities to implement scalable projects in designing and implementing, for example, projects in solar-powered water treatments in Cambodia, water data and flood warning systems in Lao PDR, smart water management in Thailand, and renewable energy-powered desalination in Vietnam. The project's most transferable asset is not the hardware alone, it's the cooperation architecture, it's the local ownership, it's the co-design, the technology adaptation, the public-private engagement, the capacity development, the long-term operation and maintenance, regional peer learning and evidence generation, for policy uptake. Replication does not happen by chance. It is designed through this architecture. Let me also underscore the importance of the role of the UN system. The UN system-wide strategy gives a clear pathway to do exactly that at scale. Resident coordinators— and we have with us DCO today— and the UN country teams can help identify and articulate country demand and anchor it in the cooperation frameworks Regional and specialized institutions can support adaptation and peer learning across similar contexts. Financing partners can help move proven solutions from pilot to investments. We at UNOSCEAP can provide the connected ecosystem, connective ecosystem linking demand to solutions, convening partners, supporting co-design, mobilizing catalytic support, and ensuring that results are documented and shared. For replication. Ultimately, scaling renewable energy for resilient food systems requires more than transferring technologies. It requires sustained institutions, trusted partnerships— His Excellency was talking about trust— country ownership, and a shared commitment to learning across borders. Through South-South cooperation and Triangle cooperation, successful solutions from the Global South can move from isolated projects and contribute to broader and lasting transformation. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Ms. Al-Hadbi, for sharing and highlighting the UN Office on South-South Cooperation's role and the different tools and platforms that you have. I think some of us, including Asian Development Bank, could build on some of these platforms that you are working in Asia. Thank you very much for that. Now, we're moving to UN regional So I'd like to invite UN Regional Commission in New York office. How are you turning global commitment on food-energy-water nexus into regional actions? Over to you.

Thank you very much. Thank you, Rachel, and really thank you very much also to the government of the Republic of Indonesia and partners for convening this very important discussion. We are really very honored to speak here on behalf of the 5 UN Regional commissions that are serving all UN member states across all regions of the world. And really, I wanted to start also like other partners by commending the case of Indonesia's own trajectory of really, you know, reducing undernourishment while really scaling and raising the share of renewables in the energy mix. And this really demonstrates that this is not an agenda that is an aspect. Aspiration, but it's happening and it's practical and it's achievable. So, as many of the speakers have said, the crisis in the recent years have taught us a very hard lesson, that energy shocks quickly become food shocks. So fuel and fertilizer price spikes travel through irrigation supply chains and land in the— on the plates of the most vulnerable. And these vulnerabilities, as we have been seeing, do not respect borders, and neither do the solutions. So river basins, power grids, food value chains are regional by nature, and the nexus, the food-energy-water nexus, must therefore be governed not only at the national level but also at the regional level. So with this framing in mind, just allow me to highlight 3 quick points on how the regional commissions are supporting and can support this nexus agenda following the questions that you have kindly assigned to us. First, through intergovernmental platforms for regional cooperation, and I have many examples to share, but let me highlight the case of ESCAP, which you are very familiar with, that is helping align power system connectivity with sustainable development through its Green Power Corridor Framework and the support to ASEAN power grids. So that renewable electricity can flow to where the food is grown, stored, and processed. Secondly, through knowledge exchange and common norms and standards. And in this case, allow me to highlight the case of ECLAC, that with FAO and other UN partners is providing the technical backbone on the CELAC plan for food security, nutrition, and hunger eradication, and building up experiences of other regions. And these are really regional public goods that all the countries in the region and beyond can draw on. And third, scaling practical solutions through South-Southern triangular cooperation. And you see, it is the core topic of our discussion today. And in this case, I want to highlight an example that's coming from, from ESCWA, an initiative to promote small-scale renewable energy applications in rural areas that has brought small-scale solar to rural communities in several countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia, and has really been recognized as a good SDG— a good practice in SDG advancement, and is being replicated also across other regions. And if I may, since I cannot miss— you know, I have to also speak about the work of ECA in Africa, that working with the African African Union and FAO is really embedding clean energy in agri-food systems, albeit in regional architectural agricultural value chains under the Africa Common Free Trade Area. So these are just some illustrations of action that is happening at the regional level. And in closing, I just want to reiterate that on behalf of the regional commissions, we stand ready to continue working and to work with all partners and member states around the table, connecting the national ambition with these opportunities at the regional level, and taking forward, of course, the outcomes of today's discussion. Thank you.

Thank you very much for highlighting the work of the Regional Commission's work and highlighting on the different initiatives that you are forwarding. So thank you very much for that. Finally, I have the pleasure of introducing Ms. Angelica Hakome, the Director of FAO Liaison Office for the UN. If you can highlight on the latest development on strengthening resilience agriculture food system through renewable energy. The floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Madam Moderator, and kudos on pronouncing my last name, which is usually quite difficult. At the outset, I also wish to thank the government of Indonesia, GIZ, and ASEAN for convening us for this very important discussion. I wanted to highlight a little bit about renewable energy and agri-food systems and how the linkages go into a bit of some of the solutions, and speak a little bit about the trade-offs as we take these decisions in an integrated manner. Renewable energy, as has been mentioned before, is essential for achieving sustainable agrifood systems, as every part of the entire agrifood system, all stages, depend on energy, from fertilizer to chemical production to producing food on the farm, pumping irrigation of water, processing and transforming products, refrigeration, cold storage, transport, even cooking. So, as we know, therefore, energy is— energy is a critical enabler of agrifood systems transformation and is increasingly recognized as such in events such as this one are part of how this recognition— Agri-food systems account for roughly 1/5 to 1/4 of global greenhouse emissions. Within these emissions, fossil fuels for energy use across value chains from production, processing, transport, retail, and household consumption account for roughly 20-25% of agri-food systems emissions. Therefore, decarbonizing energy use within agri-food systems is a major opportunity to reduce emissions while simultaneously improve productivity and resilience. Energy is not peripheral to agrifood systems, it's a fundamental building block of them. As such, clean energy is part of one of our 10 domains of the FAO Global Roadmap, which I invite you all on another occasion to explore. Around the world, especially in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, many rural households still rely on firewood, charcoal, traditional biomass for cooking and basic energy needs. Globally, around 2 billion people still lack access to clean cooking solutions, with the majority living in Africa and Asia. So, this reliance on traditional biomass creates multiple challenges: deforestation, pollution, lower productivity, and time burdens. But there's also renewable energy solutions. Some were mentioned: solar mini-grids, solar power integration, biogas systems, and clean cooking technologies, which can transform livelihoods while reducing pressure on forestries. For many smallholders, access to electricity is not only about lighting and cooking. It means being able to dry crops, mill grains, refrigerate perishables, store products longer, and access higher-value markets. Energy transition is therefore also essential to rural development and food security agenda. And this was mentioned by many of the previous speakers. Agriculture is also a supplier of renewable energy. So, this relationship is not one-directional. Agriculture is an energy user, but it can also be a big energy producer. Some examples include bioenergy from agricultural resources. And here, renewable energy produced from crops and forestry products, especially when sustainably managed, crop residues, agriculture byproducts, animal waste. And these resources— excuse me— can generate electricity, heat, biogas, and liquid biofuels. Importantly, this biomass is part of the natural carbon cycle. When managed sustainably, it can contribute to lower net emissions, to more lower net emissions than fossil fuels. Agricultural waste that will otherwise be burned or left to decompose can become a valuable energy resource. So there's no one-size-fits-all, uh, renewable energy pathways work that works everywhere. So context-specific approaches and evidence-based planning are essential. Agriculture can contribute to climate mitigation in the energy sector. Looking ahead, some emerging technologies that combine sustainable biomass production, bioenergy generation, and carbon capture storage within these systems have the potential to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while producing energy. Again, it's not applicable to everywhere, but it illustrates how agrifood systems can contribute actively to climate mitigation rather than just be a source of emissions. Something that's important to discuss is trade-offs. Food and energy systems can compete for resources. One such area is water competition. Agriculture accounts for a great share of global freshwater withdrawals. These energy systems also depend on water. For example, hydropower requires river flows and reservoirs. Thermal power generation requires cooling water. Some renewable energy technologies may also have water requirements. As climate shocks intensify water scarcity in many regions, difficult choices emerge. Should water be used for irrigation? Should it be allocated to higher power— hydropower generation? How should these trade-offs be managed during droughts? The answer is not to prioritize one sector over the other, but to strengthen the integrated water and energy food planning. Another issue is energy for free could be problems to come. Delivering at low cost renewable energy such as irrigation through solar panels is a good mitigation option, but when they— especially when they replace diesel generators. However, they may lead to overuse of irrigation since pumping becomes free, and without proper training or management of the water resource, it leads to waste of water and lack of long-term sustainability. Thank you. Sustainability. So delivering free and renewable energy should not imply that water becomes free, especially if underground water is not renewable. Sustainable practices in agriculture can support renewable energy. Investing in landscapes can create win-win outcomes. So as a result, some countries are beginning to invest in watershed and landscape management as part part of their energy strategies. These investments include agroforestry, reforestation, soil conservation, better grazing management, erosion control measures. Benefits are substantial. For farmers, you have better soils, higher productivity, improved resilience. For hydropower operators, you have reduced sedimentation, longer infrastructure life, and more reliable electricity generation. So, this is not a trade-off. This is a clear example of positive synergies between agri-food systems and renewable energy. The relationship between renewable energy and agrifood systems is fundamentally two-way—

two ways.

Agrifood systems need modern, affordable, renewable energy to produce, process, transport, and prepare food. At the same time, agriculture can contribute to renewable energy production and, through sustainable land management, help protect critical energy infrastructure such as hydropower systems. The challenge is therefore not to manage food and energy separately, but to adopt integrated approaches that recognize the interdependence of food, water, land, and energy systems. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Ms. Hakomei, for really highlighting that integrated approach is really critical so that it's not a trade-off, but it's actually a better outcome by working together. And I think that was what Vice Minister also highlighted at the very beginning. Thanks for that consistent messaging. Finally, not least, it's a pleasure to introduce Ms. Helena Flazer, the Director of the Policy and Programming Branch of the UN Development Coordination Office, UNDCO, and of Joint SDG Fund. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Madam Moderator, and deep appreciation to the host country today, for inviting us to this really interesting event, and to all the partners who are co-convening. So, colleagues, the question that we haven't touched on so much yet is the question of financing. We've heard about the solutions, and we know that it's clear that renewable energy strengthens food systems, climate-smart agriculture can build resilience, and that this requires an integrated and coherent approach. Approach. We've heard some excellent examples from different government perspectives, but also partner perspectives. And what I want to focus on today now is around the challenge of financing these approaches and a fantastic example of our partnership with the Government of Indonesia in this space. Too often, colleagues, countries are incentivized to pursue separate funding streams for agriculture, for energy, for climate adaptation, for food security, for economic transformation. And yet, as the Vice Minister so clearly and eloquently put it, governments experience these challenges as interconnected, and they need to finance them in integrated ways, not in siloed ways. So this is where we see a really good synergy between national leadership, which colleagues also underscored, and the UN Development System. You, the Member States, have invested in an empowered Resident Coordinator System and a reformed UN Development System, asking us to be more coherent, to bring different mandates and strategies better around a common approach in support of national priorities. And this can help countries to develop more integrated investment pathways to attract financing at scale around national priorities. And in partnership with the Joint SDG Fund, which is the catalytic instrument, the muscle for the revised development system, we can showcase some really interesting results, and I think Indonesia in particular offers an excellent example. Under the leadership of our Resident Coordinator, Geeta Sabharwal, the UN country team, including FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, and UNIDO worked with the government of Indonesia to build an integrated approach linking sustainable finance, climate action, food systems, and economic transformation in response to national priorities. And rather than focusing on individual projects, the partnership concentrated on strengthening the broader financing architecture needed to crowd in investment and channel investment towards national priorities, and many of those we've heard today, including the solar-powered irrigation and biofortified seeds. And this included support for sustainable financing instruments, and here's where the sort of more innovative approach comes in, including SDG bonds, Green Sukuk, as well as partnerships with Bapenas, the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Services Authority, and now Danantara, Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund. And the results have been very impressive. With $9.5 million, which is not much, from the Joint SDG Fund, the program has helped to mobilize more than $5.7 billion through sovereign SDG bonds, Green Sukuk, and the world's first publicly offered sovereign blue bond. These proceeds have gone directly to Indonesia's green and blue transitions. 6 major Indonesian banks representing $136 billion in assets have committed to sustainable financing frameworks, embedding the shift over the longer term, well beyond the Fund's initial investment. These instruments now combine to finance climate-smart and circular economy projects, with results already including an estimated 2.8 million tons of CO2 emissions reduced, and 41,000 hectares of mangroves rehabilitated. Our Resident Coordinator's convening and connecting role is now expanding to the next frontier in partnership with the host government, and this is around nickel production, a success case and prime candidate for South-South cooperation, discussed just yesterday in the first annual meeting of the UN Task force on critical energy transition minerals. Taken together, these experiences highlight 3 financing approaches that are important, and that's where I want to wrap up my discussion today. The first is the importance of catalytic public finance that helps countries prepare pipelines of investable opportunities. Second, using concessional finance strategically to reduce risk and crowd in larger sources of capital, including from development finance institutions and the private sector. And thirdly, most importantly, financing must remain country-owned and anchored in nationally defined priorities. Blended finance works best when it supports national development strategies rather than standalone projects. And this is again where the Joint SDG Fund can play a unique role. It brings together governments, UN entities, international financial institutions and investors around a common nationally-led agenda, supporting one coherent platform. So colleagues, the lesson from our engagement with Indonesia is very much one we have aspired to be a good partner to the government, but we have also drawn incredible lessons that can cross-fertilize through South-South cooperation with other countries. And it's not simply that renewable energy can support resilient food systems, as we heard so eloquently today, but it's that integrated solutions require integrated financing and integrated partnerships under national ownership. When those elements come together, then we are far better positioned to move from small pilots to transformation at scale. Thank you very much.

Well, thank you very, very much for that great concluding remark, which can be a concluding remark for this whole session. But thank you very much for this rich and useful and very enlightening conversation, where concept comes to implementation by bringing in all the elements on the food, energy, and water nexus. And of course, we would have loved to have some question and answer and dialogue, but we are running We're a little late already, so I am going to move forward with concluding this session, noting that this nexus really requires a really integrated and synergistic approach, which Vice Minister and all of you have highlighted. Also, to do that, technology is really important, but also blended finance and financial instrument governance, and finally, the very essence of this conversation, on South-South and triangular cooperation is key to make this happen moving forward. It's been a real pleasure for being your moderator today, and Asian Development Bank stands ready to support in the region particularly and move forward with this agenda for implementation in a strong manner under the South-South cooperation and collaboration with all of you. With that, thank you very much.