Climate Change-Induced Shocks to Production: A Mounting Threat to ASEAN’s Food and Nutrition Security?

Abstract

 This academic paper seeks to assess ASEAN’s sustained capacity to
achieve food and nutrition security against a backdrop of climate change-induced more intensive, more frequent, and more extreme weather events and increasing food losses by farmers. At issue is whether the risk of natural disasters can be mitigated and whether ASEAN’s agriculture and food systems can sustainably achieve the required production increases and lower the region’s dependence on the productivity paradigm even as the negative impacts of climate change intensify and pressures on land and water resources mount. Discovery research was conducted. Data for this qualitative inquiry includes direct observation and secondary research data generated as part of organizational record-keeping by governmental and international organizations, agencies, and research institutes. The findings indicate that extreme weather events not only reduce agricultural outputs but also have deleterious consequences on nutrition security. While the region is betting on biotechnology to reduce the vulnerabilities of its food
production systems and on production intensification to increase its output,
it needs to transition to more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agricultural systems. The onus should be on the development of organic and biodynamic techniques that minimize or eliminate the risk of chemical food adulteration and preserve the environment while increasing productivity. Measures strengthening national food control regulatory frameworks and enhancing food safety management along food chains should also be adopted.