As Asia grapples with the escalating challenges of food security, the urgency to innovate and implement sustainable solutions has never been more critical. Climate change, with its unpredictable effects on agriculture, threatens the accessibility and availability of food across the region. As the global population continues to grow, particularly in Asia, the demand for food is expected to increase exponentially. This makes it imperative to reevaluate our current food systems and develop preventive measures to address these challenges head-on. 

Understanding Food Insecurity: The Challenge at Hand

Food insecurity is a complex and multifaceted issue that arises when people do not have consistent access to enough safe and nutritious food to lead healthy, active lives.

The consequences of food insecurity extend beyond hunger and malnutrition. It affects economic stability, public health, and even political stability. As food becomes scarcer and more expensive, vulnerable populations are pushed further into poverty, leading to a cycle of deprivation and inequality. Children are particularly at risk, as malnutrition can have long-lasting effects on their health and development. Additionally, food insecurity can lead to increased migration, as people are forced to leave their homes in search of better opportunities, straining resources in already overburdened urban areas.

In the broader context, food insecurity can destabilise entire regions, leading to conflict and political instability. When populations are unable to access basic necessities like food, tensions rise, and the potential for unrest grows. This makes it all the more crucial for Asia to invest in sustainable agricultural practices and innovative solutions that can ensure food security for all.

Asia Tech x Singapore – InnovFest x Elevating Founders Asia

Asia Tech x Singapore, through its InnovFest x Elevating Founders Asia event, plays a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of innovation and expanding the dialogue on food security. This platform brings together some of the brightest minds in technology, innovation and investment, showcasing groundbreaking ideas that have the potential to reshape industries and address critical challenges like food security.

At the latest start-up event, the National University of Singapore (NUS), showcased more than 100 of our start-ups and technologies, and attracted over 5,500 delegates. Visitors to the showcase gained insights into the biggest names in fields that are shaping the future, from green technology and genetics to cybersecurity and the metaverse.

Organised by NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of NUS, InnovFest is a flagship tech innovation conference in Asia. This event has become a cornerstone for the innovation and enterprise ecosystem, bringing together start-ups, venture capitalists, corporates, institutes of higher learning, government agencies, and the media. Since 2006, NUS Enterprise has been organising InnovFest in Singapore and expanded it to Suzhou in 2015, creating a hub for ideas, markets, and talent to converge.

As part of the NUS Giving experience, guests were granted access to an exhibition where they could engage with start-ups from Singapore and the region. These included Nafas, which provides a sensor network to monitor air quality conveniently and economically; alternative meat producers Jikara and Meatless Kingdom; Probicient, a start-up offering probiotic beer; and Spiralife, a microalgal biotechnology start-up that cultivates various microalgae species to extract valuable substances for applications in food and beverages, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements. Guests also had the opportunity to sample some of these innovative food products, further emphasising the importance of food security and sustainable practices in today's world.

Food Security: From Lab to Market

After the walkthrough, guests attended a panel discussion, titled: “Food Security: From Lab to Market”, where industry experts discussed the current and future food security issues faced by the human population. The panel provided a platform for thought leaders to share their insights and propose solutions to these challenges.

Ms Florence Leong (’86), a mentor and advisor at NUS Enterprise and Co-Founder of KosmodeHealth, a NUS Food Science Technology spin-off, moderated the session. KosmodeHealth expands access to health by repurposing food waste for human nutrition and 3D cell culture, aligning with the broader theme of sustainability.

Panellist Dr Somika Bhatnagar, a scientist and educator with over 20 years of experience in biotechnology and nanotechnology, emphasised the interdependence of food security and sustainability. She explained that "Food security is about making food available for people despite climate challenges. Growing nutritious food in a smarter way supports food sustainability. Both are interrelated and cannot be separated."

Ms Nichol Ng (’20), CEO and Managing Director of X-Inc Pte Ltd and Co-Founder of The Food Bank Singapore Ltd, highlighted the need for consumer education in understanding the origins of their food. "It's interesting to see how farms have been industrialised to maximise production in a land-scarce area. But the consumers have not changed the way they look at produce. If we want to talk about security and sustainability, we need to be educated about where food comes from. We do tend to take our food supply for granted."

Mr Vincent Wei (’09), Co-founder and CEO of Archisen, a Singapore-based agritech company, shared his insights on the resilience of food systems. “Food resilience is about the ability to adapt and respond to shocks and stresses to the food ecosystem, such as COVID and climate change. Singapore is vulnerable because we import a lot of our food, but the government manages a stockpile and multiple sources. Everyone has a part to play in this, not just the producers, but also the consumers, the restaurants, the whole value chain.”

Making the supply chain much more efficient and reducing wastage is the way to go, emphasised Mr Anton Wibowo, CEO of Trendlines Innovation Centre. “We are obsessed with producing more, but a more efficient supply chain can get the right food to the right place at the right time,” he explained.

The panel also discussed Singapore's ambitious goal to sustainably produce 30 per cent of the nation's nutritional needs by 2030, highlighting the progress and challenges in the local farming industry. Ms Ng suggested that Singapore may need to relook at import policies to ensure local farmers thrive in the market, while Mr Wibowo advocated for developing the right smart technology rather than merely increasing production capacity. Dr Bhatnagar expressed optimism for advancing research in sustainable food production, noting that "We have PhD students, scientists, and researchers working on the technology. We are working with philanthropists to bring research to market."

It was a very interesting discussion with differing views but one thing that all the panelists resonated with was that deeper collaborations among all stakeholders are required to uncover better solutions for Singapore to achieve the 30 by 30 goal.

Supporting Innovation and Food Security

As we look to the future, it’s clear that achieving food security in Asia will require collective effort and continuous innovation, and a commitment to technology for social good. Each of us has a role to play in supporting this vital cause, whether through individual actions, supporting research and development or contributing to the broader conversation on sustainable practices.

By pushing for innovation and research, we can develop and implement solutions that not only address current challenges but also anticipate future needs. These solutions are essential for building resilient food systems that can withstand the pressures of climate change, population growth and economic fluctuations. Supporting initiatives that focus on sustainable agriculture, smart technology and resource management is crucial in paving the way for a more secure and sustainable food future.

Consider contributing to NUS Giving to help fund the research and innovation that will drive these advancements. Your support can make a significant difference, ensuring that the brightest minds and most promising technologies have the resources they need to make a real difference in society. Together, we can create a future where food security is not just a goal, but a reality for all—one that guarantees access to nutritious food for generations to come.