Food security discussed at World Economic Forum

LEADERS, farmers and scientists called for improved collaboration, linkages and technology transfers under the regional initiative Grow Asia as the ideal way to ensure food security in the region. Sharing their viewpoints on the issue, participants pledged their commitment to an innovative regional solution, during a session held at World Economic Forum in East Asia held in Manila, Philippines, from 21-23 May 2014.

Developed with the ASEAN Secretariat, Growth Asia aims to advance food security and promote sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth as well as to facilitate active links across the entire value chain.

“We have more than 300 million smallholders in Asia and they are the most vulnerable,” said Franky Oesman Widjaja, chairman and CEO of Indonesian agribusiness company Sinar Mas. “Sustainable agriculture is the only way forward.”

Noting that the challenge lies not only in producing more sustainable food amid an expanding global population, Estrella Penunia, secretary-general of the Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development in the Philippines, spoke of the need for tighter links from rice fields up.

Acknowledging the complexities of attaining food security in the future, Ho Hsing-Chan, Group managing director, ASEAN, DuPont in Singapore, pointed to migratory trends that see more people in cities and the reluctance of young people to enter the farming sector. “We are struggling to get young people to come into the farming sector,” said Hsing-Chan. “The children of farmers are reluctant to be farmers themselves.”

Robert S. Ziegler, director-general, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines, spoke of the “biological revolution”, how the development of resilient, higher-yield crops will help to ensure food security. “We know that change climate will throw at us major challenges. But we have at our disposal a tremendous array of new tools. Our understanding of biology, molecular genetics, this whole biological revolution, will allow us to develop crops that will withstand the onslaught of climate change.”

Viet Nam is not be spared from the effects of climate change. Pilot programmes over recent years have shown how science can mitigate the risks, according to Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam. He said that multistakeholder, market-based initiatives had seen farmers boost their yields and income, while at the same time significantly reducing waste and emissions. He also emphasized a collaborative response: “The best response will come from everyone, not only the government.”

Lisa Dreier, senior director, head of Food Security and Development Initiatives, World Economic Forum USA, talked about new approaches and partnerships as necessary for countries in the region. “The ASEAN region has significant potential to be a leader in environmentally and socially sustainable food production to further food security in the region. Realising that potential will require innovative new approaches, including partnerships.”

The co-chairs of the World Economic Forum on East Asia were: Yolanda Kakabadse, President, WWF International, Switzerland, Switzerland; Takeshi Niinami, Chairman, Lawson, Japan; Global Agenda Council on the Role of Business; Atsutoshi Nishida, Chairman of the Board, Toshiba Corporation, Japan; James T. Riady, CEO, Lippo Group, Indonesia.