Revisiting the Dialogue on Agriculture and Food Security in ASEAN: The AUN-AFS Webinars

In light of a successful completion of the Inaugural ASEAN University Network for Agriculture and Food Security (AUN-AFS) Webinar Series spanning across February - April 2025, the AUN Secretariat would like to take this opportunity to revisit the 4 sessions and knowledge arising throughout. Much of the discussions were rooted in the 4 pillars of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) – food availability, food accessibility, food stability, and food utilisation – with each speaker offering thought-provoking and diverse insights under the same topic, further encouraging an interdisciplinary learning. As ASEAN higher education institutions pool their knowledge under the umbrella of food security and throughout the new thematic initiative of the AUN-AFS, this piece aims to serve as a “go-to” reading which seeks to capture enlightening perspectives shared by thought leaders and experts in the field.

As the extensive and complex layers of agriculture and food security unfolded throughout the webinar, the messages conveyed in each session resonated deeply with participants from all walks of academic and professional background. Strong engagements from students, professors, and researchers underscored the vital role of higher education in driving forward more inclusive and collaborative actions in establishing a well-informed society.

Food Availability in ASEAN

The inaugural virtual session of the AUN-AFS Webinar Series held on 10 February 2025 marked a significant milestone in paving the way for a sustained regional dialogue on food security and agriculture in ASEAN. Focusing on the theme of food availability, speakers in this session explored challenges in food security – it extends beyond production and encompasses affordability, accessibility and safety regulations. Its interconnected nature characterised much of the discussion and laid the foundation of the succeeding webinars held throughout the months. Prof. Dr. Drajat Martiants from Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB University) noted that solely ensuring the ‘availability’ of food presents only the tip of the iceberg as food consumption needs to be underpinned by an in-depth understanding of its nutritional value is equally important. Echoing his view, Mrs. Sirinrat Srikulnath from Kasetsart University added that increasing food production is insufficient without adequate knowledge at the consumption stages. Both speakers advocated for cross-disciplinary research collaboration to generate inclusive results and findings that support a well-informed policy-making.

The session also celebrated the launch of UPM’s Blueprint on Food Security, presented by Dato’ Prof. Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, which has been a key factor propelling the university’s mission in placing agriculture and food security at the front of Malaysia’s national agenda. It has been highlighted that this blueprint serves to not remain solely as a framework but something has delivered intended outcomes. UPM’s leadership in developing the blueprint and also being appointed as the coordinator of the Food Security Nexus positions the university at the forefront of agricultural and food security innovation, as well the host institution of the new thematic initiative, the AUN-AFS.

Read more about the 1st Inaugural AUN-AFS Webinar:

• https://aunsec.org/news/aun-afs-leads-interdisciplinary-innovation-higher-education
• https://aunsec.org/news/inaugural-aun-afs-webinar-series

Rewatch the 1st AUN-AFS Webinar here.

Food Accessibility in ASEAN

The second session of the AUN-AFS Webinar Series on 11 March 2025 unpacked the next pillar of food security: food accessibility and touched upon the persistent disparities in food access across ASEAN. Hon. Prof. Emeritus Datuk Dr. Mad Shamsudin from UPM addressed the strong link between food security and affordability – much of which are posed by the climate crisis, global inflation and the heavy reliance on food imports. Echoing themes from the first session, Prof. Nasir noted that while there is an increase in food production, access to affordable and nutritious food remains a concern. Therefore, policy-reforms must take a multifaceted approach that not only drives a sustainable technological innovation but also supports vulnerable groups who are often marginalized.

Mr. Rajendra Aryal from FAO addressed the structural challenges within the agri-food systems driven by environmental, social and economic pressures. His suggestions including the investment in climate-smart agriculture and prioritising small-scale farmers is an inclusive approach that boosts crop yields and pushes crop diversification while also investing in citizens’ capacity and reducing the pressure to rely heavily on imports. This was further acknowledged by Prof. Dr. Amado Angeles from University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) who presented the opportunity of increasing affordability should food be produced domestically.

Read more about the 2nd AUN-AFS Webinar: https://aunsec.org/news/2nd-aun-afs-webinar

Food Stability in ASEAN

On 18 April 2025, the third session of the AUN-AFS Webinar Series discussed food stability in the ASEAN region. A key feature of this session was sharing and learning from neighboring countries which not only served as valuable case studies but also strengthened regional resilience. Prof. Datin Paduka Fatimah Mohamed Arshad from UPM drew on the success of farmer-centric models in ASEAN countries in addition to recommending regional collaboration through innovation hubs and cross-border academic research programmes. Assoc. Prof. Le Van Vang from Can Tho University walked participants through Vietnam’s journey towards food self-sufficiency. While noting the country’s progress, he also expressed concerns about the ongoing threats posed by climate-induced weather events. Concluding the webinar, Prof. Ir. Budi Guntoro from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) shifted the focus to the role of livestock sectors in food availability.

Read more about the 3rd AUN-AFS Webinar: https://aunsec.org/news/3rd-aun-afs-webinar

Food Utilisation in ASEAN

The final leg of the AUN-AFS Webinar Series brought the focus to the fourth pillar of food security: food utilisation. This session explored the nutritional dimensions of food security, highlighting issues such as malnutrition, overconsumption and intra-household distribution. The growing scientific-evidence addressing the heightened health problems linked to malnutrition and excessive consumption of unhealthy food was highlighted by Prof. Dr. Norhasmah Sulaiman from UPM and Dr. Mercedita A. Sombila from SEARCA. Both urged higher education institutions in ASEAN to play their critical role in advancing nutritional literacy. Dr. Vinayak Ghate from National University of Singapore (NUS) shared Singapore’s comprehensive strategies in which the country has set an example of how multi-level actions – by the government sector and citizens – can benefit the food system and public health. A crucial point was also noted by Dr. Ghate who drew attention to the rapid population growth and the shrinking availability of arable land amidst the climate crisis which has also been reducing crop yields.

Read more about the 4th AUN-AFS Webinar: https://aunsec.org/news/4th-aun-afs-inaugural-webinar

• Rewatch the AUN-AFS Webinar here.

Paving the Way for ASEAN Higher Education

The success of the AUN-AFS Webinar Series is only the beginning of a sustained regional dialogue on agriculture and food security. As ASEAN continues to witness and navigate through the persisting challenges of food insecurity, the interdisciplinary conversation – encompassing agricultural, environmental, social, legal and nutritional dimensions – has enriched regional understanding and sparked a deeper collaboration among higher education institutions. The overwhelming participation across the globe not only symbolises the urgency of these challenges but also the readiness of ASEAN’s academic sector in leading research and innovation efforts. What emerged from the 4 sessions is highly valuable in inclusive policy-making, healthier patterns of food consumption, and a sustainable food system.