How much is enough?

The United Nations predicts that by 2050 the global population will reach around 9.7 billion. Adequately feeding such a large number of humans demands a huge boost in food production. Changes in diet, climate and demography will pose challenges to food security. Increasingly wealthy Asian populations will opt for more meat, fruit and vegetables. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization projects that most of the increase in demand for animal protein by 2030 and beyond will come from developing Asia. Intelligent ideas for meeting nutritional needs requires input from innovators hungry for progress.

In 2011, the global population surpassed 7 billion, and the United Nations predicts it will reach 9 billion by 2045. Also, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, our food system faces the pressure of producing about 70% more food for the growing population. Along with population growth, urbanization and changing food demands are also pressuring Asia’s food systems and could threaten food security if they are not addressed. To find innovative solutions, governments, NGOs, academia, business leaders, scientists and the food industry will have to work together.

Dr. Shakuntala Thilsted, Leader of the Value Chains and Nutrition Research Program at WorldFish has been invited to join as a panelist for "Affordability —where does the buck stop?" session at 1.45 pm (GMT+8). Join Dr. Shakuntala talks where she will be discussing on who is responsible for ensuring food is affordable? How can governments, businesses and participants in every stage of the supply chain work together to improve affordability without driving down standards?

This event will open up debate around the economic and geopolitical risks involved in food production, and explore the ways science and technology can tackle them now and in the future. We will bring together leading thinkers from government, industry, NGOs, academia and agriculture to examine the varied and complex challenges and opportunities across the region.

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