Sustainable Asian Food Systems I: Integrating knowledge across-sectors

Panel Convenor(s)

• 

  Thomas Reuter

  The University of Melbourne, Australia
• GM

  Graeme MacRae

  Massey University, New Zealand

Panel Chair(s)

• GM

  Graeme MacRae

  Massey University, New Zealand

Presenter(s)

• 

  Thomas Reuter

  The University of Melbourne, Australia
• GM

  Graeme MacRae

  Massey University, New Zealand
• LC

  Leo Chu

  University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

One of the lessons from recent crises is that rural economies based on family-scale agriculture serve as a social security safety net of last resort in many developing countries. Most of the world's food is also produced by these same economies - on small farms on relatively small areas of land with very limited resources. These conditions apply to much of Asia, where two thirds of the world's small farms are located.
The impact of climate change, weaknesses identified in profit-oriented agri-food
production and marketing systems, and declining rural livelihoods in the context of ongoing geopolitical crises challenge us to seek more just, resilient and sustainable ways of food production and distribution. 
This panel invites papers that address one or more of the following research questions:
What is the role of small farmers in providing food security during a crisis? Have
disruptions of economies and mobility patterns following the pandemic caused an increase
in small farming? Have farming practices changed and are they becoming more
economically, socially and politically sustainable? How can rural economies be supported
by government policy, and where do such policies fail farmers? What other, innovative
ways are there to ensure food security in the future? Are flows of knowledge and cooperation  between sectors adequate to support the systemic shifts needed?
Our aim is to inform policies to maximize sustainability and resilience and thus boost societies’ chance of weathering the many systemic challenges that lie ahead in an increasingly uncertain world.

Presentations:

• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  Productivity through Diversity: Systems Ecology and Agricultural Development in Southeast Asia, 1964–1993
  

  Presenter: Leo Chu – University of Cambridge
• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  Towards an Integrated Approach to Systemic Change in Asian Food Systems: Insights from Indonesian Case Studies
  

  Presenter: Thomas A. Reuter – The University of Melbourne
• 09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)

  Small farmers, sustainable food security and inter-sector communication in Indonesia.
  

  Presenter: Graeme MacRae – Massey University