THE BIG CHALLENGES FACING ASIA’S FOOD SYSTEMS
FACING MANY CHALLENGES, ASIA-PACIFIC WILL NEED TO INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION DESPITE CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTERS, WHAT CRITICAL FACTORS WILL NEED TO BE OVERCOME?
The current development landscape is dominated by Green Revolution ideals—genetically modified seeds used in capital-intensive large-scale agriculture schemes with a prominent role for pesticides and fertilizers. These efforts claim to feed the developing world. Instead, the schemes are realized as large tracts of monoculture that prioritize export market crops, require increased mechanization, and are dependent on multinationals for chemicals and seeds. According to a May 2011 policy brief from the UN’s Least Developed Country series, the four biggest agricultural supply companies control “60% of global agro-chemical, 30% of seed, and almost 40% of biotechnology supply.”
The purpose of this conference is to provide honest policy proposals that lead to concrete solutions, guided by the belief that small agriculture can feed the world.
