Theme Study 2009: Sustainable Agriculture and Food
Security in Asia and the Pacific
The impact of food insecurity on the Asia-Pacific region and how to deal with it is the focus of an ESCAP study entitled Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Asia and the Pacific. The study examines the environmental, economic and social challenges that are the roots of the region's food insecurity and suggests a regional framework of action to be taken by governments and the international community in order to create greater food security.
Access to food and not the supply of food is central to food security. Thus, over the short term, Governments need to develop and strengthen social protection programmes. Governments also need to improve the availability of food at the national and local levels. In the medium term, it is critical to support the revitalization of small-scale sustainable food production. This involves ensuring that soils retain vital nutrients and farmers and others protect biodiversity and regenerate natural resources of soil and water. Climate change holds the potential to radically alter agroecosystems in the coming decades and there is already evidence of devastating crop failures. Predictions concerning food production vary. However, even if overall production were to remain high, declines in certain parts of the Asia-Pacific region may be expected. Over the long term, adapting and mitigating impacts from climate change will have to be a top priority for all countries in the region.
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