Ambassador Azucena presented a briefing to start up innovators and incubators and members of the diplomatic corps on the various challenges faced by the ASEAN countries in the agricultural sector and the partnership opportunities on solutions to addressing them. Her presentation focused on harnessing technology to promote resilience and sustainability especially for small farmers to ensure food security.

The ASEAN: Open Doors to Agritech event co-sponsored by the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC), New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) and the Palmerston North City Council, was held at Palmerston North, the home of NZ's agritech and startups.