The Philippines will host this week the first-ever gathering of Southeast Asian agricultural engineers, which will be also participated by representatives from China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United States, organizer said Monday.

About 1,000 people are expected to join in the ASEAN Conference on Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ACABE 2013) from Sept. 24 to 27, said Ariodear Rico, chair of the organizing committee.

The four-day conference aims to harmonize global professional practice of agricultural engineering, and contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and farmers' incomes, ensuring food security and sufficiency and making the region's agricultural and fishery infrastructure withstand adverse climatic conditions, said Rico.

The event will also feature an exhibit of the latest agricultural and biosystems engineering and mechanization products, services and technologies. It is spearheaded by the Philippines' Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association (AMMDA), in partnership with the Philippine Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry.

As part of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) on services, Rico said delegates will discuss the ASEAN mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) on engineering services, standards and qualifications of professional service providers and suppliers, mainstreaming of agricultural and biosystems engineering in the ASEAN integrated food security framework and crafting of an ASEAN agricultural engineering roadmap, among other topics.