In December 2021, BESTAO team meet with the ANTAM project team for a discussion of the current work. Both parties established direct contact and a professional communication channel since November 2021. 

The Asian and Pacific Network for Testing of Agricultural Machinery (ANTAM) is an initiative lead by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific - the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (ESCAP-CSAM), and their headquarters located in Beijing. 

On December 15-16, 2021, ANTAM held its 8th annual meeting under the organization of ESCAP-CSAM in the United Nations. A total of 17 ANTAM member countries took part in the meeting. Representatives from the European Network for Testing of Agricultural Machinery (ENTAM) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also participated. The meeting approved the preliminary resolution on following topics:

 ·   Assignment of national organizations for ANTAM countries.

 ·   Accreditation for testing stations. 

The standardization administrations of member countries also discussed the possibility to implement the ANTAM accreditation. 

ANTAM has established testing codes for three kinds of agricultural equipment (power tillers, sprayers, and hand tractors) by its technical working groups (TWG), and in the annual meeting, a discussion on setting up a TWG for combined harvesters and a sub-TWG for mini tillers took place. 

One of ANTAM’s next working focus will be on finalizing the details on the accreditation of testing stations that can carry out official ANTAM certification under its testing codes. But it would take further time due to the difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. ANTAM will continue harmonizing testing standards for agricultural machinery in the Asia-Pacific region to promote the use of safe, efficient and environmentally sound agricultural machinery in support of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.