Food security grows increasingly more important in today’s interconnected world, especially in an age where demand for international exports and diverse cuisines is larger than ever. In southeast Asia, a region that hosts some of the largest populations in the world, access to food is essential to continue global security. Traditional notions around world peace and international stability have focused on state sovereignty and top-down approach to security issues. However, concepts such as food accessibility are also fundamental in understanding shifting global dynamics and conflict. Food is a fundamental human need and when supplies are threatened, significant impacts can often be felt on the most vulnerable members of our society. When global food prices increase, many countries turn towards stockpiling food for domestic consumption, having significant impacts on countries that rely on exports to feed their citizens. Stockpiling of food has several implications: domestically, it can heighten conflict as militaries are often introduced to protect food supplies, whilst internationally, other countries can experience severe food shortages, leading to riots and increased instability.
Access to food is often underpinned by political, economic and societal considerations with small disputes between states often having a significant impact on individual access. Food security is not only concerned with having enough food, but also the need to ensure sustainable agricultural practices are continued and agricultural producers are protected. Southeast Asia is particularly vulnerable to food insecurity. The region contains the largest amount of poor and hungry individuals, as well as the highest percentage of local farmers who produce sustenance for an ever-increasing population. who face food insecurity. 70% of freshwater consumption in Asia is used for farming and agriculture, leaving limited supplies available for citizens. While rural farmers produce large amounts of food for the rest of the population, they frequently struggle to have enough for themselves. International and national responses to this issue are insufficient to ensure global stability. States have largely been focused on stockpiling as a means of guaranteeing food whilst the United Nations looks towards promoting individual agricultural projects, insufficient to address this widespread problem.
Food security continues to persist as an issue due to top-down approaches to food production. Rather than merely focusing on access to food, attention must be focused on valuing local food providers, shifting the discourse onto producers and consumers of food. More control and power must be placed locally, with farmers’ voices being heard. Prior attempts at ensuring food security in southeast Asia must be abandoned. The problematic Green Revolution, driven by the World Bank in the early 2000s, had serious consequences. By listening to large corporations and tech-companies, local farmers were incentivized to move away from mixed-crop farming towards singular seed production with a heavy reliance on fertilizers. Severe environmental degradation occurred, largely harming local farmers who were left with barren land.
Instead of a continued reliance on industrial practices encouraged by the Green Revolution, farm subsidies must continue to be given in the developing world. Whilst accelerated agricultural trade liberalization is important to ensuring food is exported and available around the world, it is also essential that local farmers must be further supported by their governments. South-East Asian countries must be cautious before agreeing to global agreements which require both developed and developing countries to reduce the same amount of export subsidies. Often, these agreements are highly beneficial to wealthy nations whilst leaving small farmers in a highly vulnerable position. Food security as a concept must be reimagined, not only viewed as a means of gaining access to food, but also as a method of protection for food producers. Governments and NGOs must take action in ensuring the impacts of environmental degradation and water contamination remain contained, not threatening existing farms. Listening to local practices and incorporating some traditional farming methods may also prove beneficial.
The need for food security speaks to every individual, to have one of the most fundamental basic needs fulfilled in life. By shifting discourse away from merely having access to food, traditional discourse and power structures are questioned. In South-East Asia, a region housing the world’s biggest food producers and consumers, the very concept of food security must be rethought to ensure continued global security.
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