Blessed with six million square kilometres of ocean territory, Indonesia’s fisheries industry could make a larger contribution to its economy if better managed.Southeast Asia’s largest economy is the world’s second largest fish producer after China.
Global meat consumption is on the rise, and based on a report by Asia Research and Engagement, Asia’s seafood and meat consumption will rise by 78 percent in 2050. And this rise will likely have an impact on the environment. As reported by the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 30 percent of the Earth’s landmass is used to raise animal food.
Food is synonymous with Southeast Asia. From the mouth-watering delicacies on the streets of Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines – just to name a few – to the Michelin starred restaurants that serve fine dining quality cuisine with a dash of authentic local flavours.Yet, there is pressure on our food system to produce 70 percent more food to feed a population of 10 billion people globally by 2050.
In the last three years, the absolute number of people affected by undernourishment or chronic food deprivation globally has been on an increasing trajectory.
In 2015, the world’s leaders came together to pledge the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity through global partnership. Built on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2000-2015, it is monitored against a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projected that global warming is likely to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2030.
While Southeast Asia is gearing up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and its citizens are getting excited about such things as blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT), the region is still struggling with something that mankind has been trying to fight off since the dawn of time – hunger. The Global Hunger Organisation (GHO) recently revealed its 2018 results for the Global Hunger Index (GHI) and the results show that ASEAN states are relatively still hungry.
Around the world, nearly US$1 trillion worth of food is wasted annually. This amounts to a third of the food produced annually by weight and a quarter by calories. Food loss and waste occur throughout the supply chain.
In the last three years, the absolute number of people affected by undernourishment or chronic food deprivation globally has been on an increasing trajectory. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that, with the reversal in trends, there were 821 hungry million people in 2017, up from around 804 million people in 2016.
From farm to fork, the international community is facing growing challenges in eradicating hunger and malnutrition. And yet while some parts of the world are obviously better endowed than others in terms of climate, soil, water, and geography, there is plenty of food to go around. So why is food insecurity a problem for so many people in so many countries?What is missing are conditions ensuring that healthy and nutritious food can reach those who need it.
The global population is expected to hit eight billion in 12 years. By 2050, that number will reach nine billion. ASEAN could hold the key to feeding this unprecedented number of people but only if its member countries can look beyond domestic political survival.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projected that global warming is likely to reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2030. This is projected to bring about changes in the climate and natural systems, including changes in the frequency and intensity of weather events, sea-level rise, habitat and range loss, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and more.
