Feeding the Millions in Southeast Asia
The Association of Southeast Asian nations has introduced the regional rice reserve, the multi-stakeholder rice trade forum, and market information and sharing. These approaches have the potential of building confidence in rice trade and helping people get fed.
Producing More with Less Through Rice Intensification: Is it a Revolution or an Illusion?
Low agriculture productivity remains a key problem all across Asia that should be overcome with new green solutions to address food security and rural poverty issues.
The Effects of Food Prices on People’s Health in Asia’s Developing Countries
Good nutrition and health are essential for improving productivity and economic growth and reducing poverty. In particular, adequate nutrition at a young age is a promise for the future, not only of the individuals but also of the society and the nation.
Farming in the City: A New Path to Food Security
Cities can play a bigger role in food security while building a sense of community and the pathways to a green economy.
Pursuing Green Growth in the Greater Mekong Subregion
Picture this: rapid urbanization and massive infrastructure development and people trapped in outdated polluting transportation, escalating environmental degradation and deforestation, rising potable water shortages and food security concerns, extreme climate change occurrences and growing disaster risks.
From Pets to Pests: The Case of the Rice Planthoppers
In my childhood years, we considered planthoppers as pets. My brothers would catch, feed and train them for hopping races with other kids. Little did I know that these seemingly harmless insects can become crop destroying pests.
Tackling Food Security Challenges in Asia and the Pacific
The recent stability of food prices in Asia and the Pacific presents policymakers a window for addressing several crucial issues that, if ignored, risk reigniting the food price crisis of 2007–2012 and undermining the region’s rise out of poverty.
No Impact Week ― The Carbon ‘Cleanse’ Challenge
Starting 22 February, Asian Development Bank (ADB) is holding its second No Impact Week challenge for individuals to cut their carbon footprint, following the success of the pilot event in January 2013.
The Food, Water, Energy Nexus
Striking rates of economic growth notwithstanding, 550 million people remain hungry in Asia and the Pacific, 65% of the population has no safe piped water, and more than 600 million people live without electricity. Overcoming these problems requires a combined approach in which food, water and energy are treated as a nexus, rather than as separate, standalone issues, which has too often been the case in the past.
Green Cities: Changing the Culture of Waste
Asia’s drive to urbanize is taking an increasing toll on the environment with growing mountains of solid waste as city dwellers consume and discard resources at an ever increasing rate. If “green” cities are to be the answer to these environmental stresses then they will need to develop much more effective programs to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste.