Manila, April 28 -- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has called for stronger regional collaboration to safeguard food security in the Asia Pacific region amid the tensions in the Middle East.

Tiu Laurel made the call during the Ministerial Segment of the 38th Session of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference (APRC 38) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, from April 23 to 24, according to a news release on Tuesday.

The DA chief emphasized how the global energy shock is being translated into increasing pressure in the region's agriculture sector.

"We meet at a moment when geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have posed additional risks to global economic ...