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Climate change is detrimentally impacting our food systems, causing unpredictable weather events and affecting food production worldwide. How can the agri-food community unite to address these stark realities?
Leaders from Enterprise Singapore, Olam Agri, Buhler Group, BoomGrow and Temasek discuss how international agri-food companies are responding to the climate crisis, and the importance of accelerating Climate Adaptation Strategies in Asia.
Sharon Tay, Director, Food Manufacturing & Agritech, ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE
“Asia is highly vulnerable to climate risks due to its diverse geography. It is home to 60% of the world’s population; of which, 75% rely on agriculture for livelihood and food. Climate events such as El Nino will only further exacerbate food security issues in this region. The development of high-yielding climate adaption solutions such as drought-resistant crop varieties, bio-based inputs and data driven precision agriculture technology is imperative and will bring about social and economic benefits. Singapore’s strong agri-food tech innovation ecosystem can enhance regional efforts in advancing climate-smart solutions to protect livelihoods and contribute to a resilient food system.”
Julie Greene, Chief Sustainability Officer, OLAM AGRI
“Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity and food systems in Asia, a region that is responsible for producing more than half of the world’s food. Olam Agri is actively working with smallholder farmers to strengthen the resilience of food supply chains by adopting sustainable farming practices aimed at creating positive impact on communities and the environment, while ensuring transparency and traceability. In Thailand, Vietnam, and India, we collaborate with the public and private sectors to support over 45,000 smallholder rice farmers in transitioning to climate-smart farming practices aimed at reducing GHG emissions and water pollution, increasing yield, and improving farmer incomes.”
Philipp Fritschi, Regional Manager – Value Nutrition SEA, BUHLER GROUP
“Effective adaptation can mitigate the adverse impacts of extreme weather and rising sea-levels by protecting agricultural productivity and food supply chains. This ensures food security, stabilises economies, and supports the health and development of Asia’s population. Partnerships are crucial for accelerating change, such as a our joint venture, ERIDIA, which is leveraging fermentation and cellular agriculture to reduce the pressure on biodiversity and arable land.”
Jay Desan, Co-Founder, BOOMGROW
“It’s fundamental to dive into multi-stakeholder solutions for food security. That’s the key to unlocking transition pathways that can enable real change, both in the short and long term. We need to focus on building resilience together; we can no longer afford siloed approaches. This is simply because we face limited resources and limited time.
Indoor agtech is adressing multiple challenges around natural capital. By focusing on previously ignored risks related to vast supply chain networks, seed security and pesticide reduction, indoor agtech players are cutting carbon miles and working to manage resources efficiently, whilst providing consumers with fresh and local options.”
Ralph Graichen, Operating Partner, TEMASEK
“Agriculture is one of the sectors most directly affected by climate change. Climate change already poses a material impact on global food prices, driving inflation. Rice, for example, is very central to food security in Asia, and climate adaptation will be very important to maintain yields in the near future. Developing new climate-resistant crops and adopting climate resilient agricultural practices will be essential to maintain food security in Asia and globally.
Aquaculture is another major contributor to food security in the Asia Pacific region, providing more than half of the seafood consumed globally. Global warming is contributing to rising sea temperatures, creating many problems for producers, such as increased disease exposure for open cage farming. There is an urgent need for novel fish vaccines and resistant breeds. Sustainable sources for fish feed need to be developed and scaled.”