Can Asia be relied on to ensure global food security?

Asia has about 60 percent of the world’s population but only about a third of its arable land. Food security expert Paul Teng of Nanyang Technological University consistently uses such measured words to explain his findings. Teng has been underlining the food security challenges facing Asia and the rest of the world for decades, highlighting the challenges associated with climate change and the use of technology.

In 2013, Teng warned against South Asia’s declining agriculture production and reduced gross domestic product share, also underlining that Asia produces more agricultural commodities than it imports. “The agri-food picture in Asia has changed much in response to changes in its number of middle-class people and their rising economic power at the household level,” his 2021 co-authored study claimed. In 2022, he highlighted the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war’s “massive consequences” for global food security.

While it helps to follow a reliable expert on a matter that resonates globally, the bigger question is the broader implications of Asia’s food security dynamics. The continent is home to many of the countries most affected by climate change. It also has some of the world’s most economically active countries, with increasing urbanization and a growing middle class. This suggests that food security in Asia affects global food security through many links.

Asia’s role in global food security comes with complexities and challenges that influence its reliability as a stabilizing force in the world’s food supply. The continent is a major producer of numerous agricultural products and countries like China and India are among the largest agricultural producers globally, making their contributions vital to regional and global food markets. However, Asia’s population pressure creates immense demand for food internally, potentially limiting the amount available for export and impacting global food security.

Asia’s population pressure creates immense demand for food internally, potentially limiting the amount available for export. 

Ehtesham Shahid

Moreover, water scarcity and land degradation are significant challenges in parts of Asia, impacting agricultural productivity. And some Asian regions face political instability and economic challenges that can disrupt food production and distribution. Trade policies and regional conflicts can also affect food availability and prices.

Asia’s ability to ensure food security depends on addressing internal challenges, enhancing sustainable practices and maintaining stable economic and political conditions. International cooperation, investment in technology and infrastructure and policies aimed at sustainable resource management will be essential in leveraging Asia’s full potential to contribute to global food security.

Critical concerns on the supply side include diminishing agricultural productivity, excessive use of natural resources and growing water scarcity. As Asia undergoes further urbanization and prosperity, these factors will likely drive food prices up unless supply can adequately meet the rising demand. Moreover, climate change is poised to be the most significant threat to food security as it affects agricultural productivity and could severely impact food availability.

An Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development paper on food security claimed that 40 percent of developing Asia is projected to face severe water shortages by 2030, which, along with urban encroachment and soil erosion, will significantly stress the region’s agricultural land base. “Increasing productivity is complicated and limited by climate change. Its impact on Asia’s food security is not a distant threat,” the report stated, adding that climate change has a measurable impact on agriculture in a wide range of economies, crops and farming systems.

Critical concerns include diminishing agricultural productivity, excessive use of natural resources and growing water scarcity. 

Ehtesham Shahid

Research suggests that shifting temperature patterns rather than rainfall changes will pose the greatest risk to crop productivity in Asia. As a result, countries and regions dependent on Asia for food security would need to take several strategic measures. These measures start with adopting advanced agricultural technologies to help increase domestic food production, such as precision farming, hydroponics and vertical farming, which are particularly suited to the region’s arid areas. Efficient water use is crucial, too.

Techniques such as drip irrigation, desalination and wastewater recycling can help conserve precious water resources and increase agricultural output. Another way forward is to diversify the sources of food imports. Trade links with multiple regions can help stabilize food prices and supply, making them less vulnerable to geopolitical tensions or local agricultural disruptions in Asia. Equally critical is the need to invest in agricultural research and development that can lead to innovations tailored to the region’s specific needs, such as crops more resistant to heat and drought.

Improving food storage, processing and distribution infrastructures can minimize waste and enhance food systems’ efficiency. Supportive policies and regulatory frameworks can encourage investment in agriculture, foster innovation and facilitate sustainable practices. Countries and regions seeking greater food security should encourage collaborations between the government and private sector, leading to investments in agricultural projects and infrastructure development that boost local food production.

Food security is often at the core of national policy agendas and international cooperation efforts, reflecting its critical role in ensuring a stable, healthy and productive global population. Many Middle East and North African countries depend heavily on food imports due to limited agricultural capacity caused by arid climates and water scarcity. The reliance on Asian food supplies makes these regions sensitive to fluctuations in the continent’s food production and export policies, highlighting the importance of sustainable and stable agricultural practices within Asia for global food security.

• Ehtesham Shahid is an Indian editor and researcher in the UAE. X: @e2sham