UMBRELLA PROGRAM ON FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA
The Umbrella Program on Food and Nutrition Security for Southeast Asia is envisaged to serve as a platform for collaborative research on food security among the University Consortium members and partner universities/institutions from the other Southeast Asian Ministries of Education Organization (SEAMEO) member countries. It aims to align the program of work on food security of SEARCA and the University Consortium to the development needs in the region and to support ongoing ASEAN-level programs on improving food security. The priority areas of collaboration shall be addressed through three integrated components: research and development, capacity building through graduate education and training, and knowledge management.
Participatory and bottom-up approach was observed in the development the Umbrella Program including consultations with the SEARCA senior fellows; benchmarking, scoping, and policy reviews; survey of UC members and other potential partners in the region; and regional consultation-workshop.
Consistent with the currently accepted international food security frameworks and the Food and Agriculture Organization's definition, which in itself subsumes nutrition security and food safety, this Umbrella Program highlights the interrelations of the dimensions of food security as follows:
FS Dimension 1 - Food Availability
FS Dimension 2 - Physical Access
FS Dimension 3 - Economic Access
FS Dimension 4 - Utilization
FS Dimension 5 - Stability
The Umbrella Program's work scope will directly contribute to ASEAN-level initiatives on food security. It is guided by the strategic thrusts of the ASEAN integrated Food Security Framework, specifically Strategic Thrust 2: Promote Conducive Food Market and trade; Strategic thrust 4: Promote Sustainable Food Production; Startegic Thrust 5: Encourage Greater Investment in Food and Agro-based Industry to Enhance Food Security; and Strategic Thrust 6: Identify and Adress Emerging Issues Related to Food Security.
In general, the Umbrella Program is guided by the following principles: inclusiveness and participation, collaboration, sustainability, supply and value-added chains, ecosystems approach, partnership with private sector, link policy, climate change risks, and vulnerability management. In its present form, the Umbrella Program considers current global issues and trends which recognize, inter alia, the ecological foundation of food security; Millenium Development Goals (MDG) and Post MDG or Sustainable Development Goals; a Green Economy; and equitable development pathways.
The criteria for the Umbrella Program include the following: value-add-addresses gaps or under-researched areas; relevance and importance for the region; benefits from collaboration; balance of R&D, capacity building, and knowledge management; and convergence with donor institutions.
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MAJOR THEMES AND SUB-THEMES
THEME 1: Food Reserves, Trade and Investment
FS Dimension 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Sub-Theme 1.1: Food Reserves
- Project 1.1.1: Comparative study on food reserve management and policies in Southeast Asia (Government and Community Reserve)
- Project 1.1.2: Investment requirements, and optimal location and storage capacities for food reserves within the Southeast Asian Region
Sub-Theme 1.2: Food Supply Chain and Logistics
- Project 1.2.1: Development of efficient supply chains of major commodities
- Project 1.2.2: Enhancing participation of smallholder farmers in value chains: Identification of investment opportunities and sharing of experiences and best practices
- Project 1.2.3: Comparative studies on trade facilitation systems for agricultural exports in Southeast Asia
Sub-Theme 1.3: International/Regional Trade Agreements and Investments
- Project 1.3.1: Expanded ASEAN Free Trade Agreements: Economic and agri-food impacts on selected ASEAN countries
- Project 1.3.2: Feasibility of futures markets in the region for major agricultural commodities
- Project 1.3.3: Role of locally rooted cooperatives in global markets
- Project 1.3.4: Developing the ASEAN agri-food market information systems
Sub-Theme 1.4: Standards on Food Quality and Safety
- Project 1.4.1: Development of risk-based food safety measures and harmonization of science-based food safety standards for priority ASEAN food commodities
- Project 1.4.2: Capacity Building for ASEAN food quality and safety
Sub-Theme 1.5: Resilience of Food Markets and Informal Systems
- Project 1.5.1: Comparative study on traditional food markets and informal systems in selected Southeast Asian countries
- Project 1.5.2: Policy analysis and cost-benefit analysis of national self-sufficiency versus regional sufficiency programs of strategic commodities
- Project 1.5.3: Causes and costs of price instability of major commodities
THEME 2: Sustainable Food Production and Utilization Systems
FS Dimension 1, 4, 5
Sub-Theme 2.1: Efficient Food Production Systems in Southeast Asia
- Project 2.1.1: Accelerating improvements in food production efficiency and sustainability
- Project 2.1.2: Capacity building for food production systems with improved efficiency
- Project 2.1.3: Knowledge management to improve food production systems
- Project 2.1.4: Resilient food production systems in response to disruptive natural and anthropogenic factors
Sub-Theme 2.2: Food Processing and Postharvest System Improvement in ASEAN
- Project 2.2.1: Value adding through post-production innovations in ASEAN
- Project 2.2.2: Capacity building and information exchange to improve postharvest systems management and food processing
Sub-Theme 2.3: Food Utilization Improvement
- Project 2.3.1: Food nutrition and consumption
- Project 2.3.2: Knowledge management for improved food utilization
Sub-Theme 2.4: Environment-related Issues in food production
- Project 2.4.1: Efficient water management
- Project 2.4.2: Green Technology
- Project 2.4.3: Capacity building on the different ways to transfer information
- Project 2.4.4: Information Education Communication campaign
THEME 3: Emerging Issues Related to Food Security
FS Dimension 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Sub-Theme 3.1: Systems of Knowledge Sharing
- Project 3.1.1: Meta-analysis of all food security-related work in UC and partner institutions
- Project 3.1.2: Capacity building and knowledge management in food security
Sub-Theme 3.2: Emergent Technologies
- Project 3.2.1: Emergent food sources including underutilized crops, fungi and algae
- Project 3.2.2: Capacity building workshops on emergent technologies
Sub-Theme 3.3: Climate Change and Use of Natural Resources
- Project 3.3.1: Policy and technology research on climate change effects on agriculture
- Project 3.3.2: Capacity building in anticipation of climate change effects on agriculture
Sub-Theme 3.4: ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015
- Project 3.4.1: Collaborative research on cross-border spread of pests and diseases
- Project 3.4.2: Research on demographic changes and their associated effects on food security as a result of anticipated changes due to AEC2015
- Project 3.4.3: Workshop on anticipated changes on intellectual property protection and data security due to AEC 2015
CONTACT US
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Feel free to contact or visit us.
- Address: Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, College 4031, Laguna, Philippines
- Laguna Lines: +63 49 554 9330 to 39, +63 49 536 2290, +63 49 572 3743
- Manila Lines: +63 2 8657 1300 to 02 local 3200 to 3204
- Fax Line: +63 49 536 7097
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Website: fanssea.searca.org
Institut Pertanian Bogor
(IPB)
The Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) or Bogor Agricultural University is an excellent agricultural science-based university in Indonesia.
Kasetsart University
(KU)
Kasetsart University (KU) is the first university in Thailand to offer degree programs in agricultural sciences.
Universitas Gadjah Mada
(UGM)
The oldest university in Indonesia, UGM has remained a leading university in the country. It has continued to strive to stay on the cutting edge of educational affairs and scientific development.
University of the Philippines Los Baños
(UPLB)
Since its establishment in 1972 as the first constituent university of the University of the Philippines System, the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) has evolved into a premier educational and research institution widely known in the Southeast Asia-Pacific region.
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(UPM)
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) formerly known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia was founded in 1971 through the merger of Faculty of Agriculture, University Malaya and Agriculture College in Serdang.
Center for Non-Traditional Security Studies of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies,
Nanyang Technological University
(RSIS/NTS)
The Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) conducts research and produces policy-relevant analyses aimed at furthering awareness and building capacity to address NTS issues and challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The centre addresses knowledge gaps, facilitates discussions and analyses, engages policymakers and contributes to building institutional capacity in the following areas: Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief; Food, Health and Energy Security; Climate Change, Environmental Resilience and Sustainable Development; and Peace, Human Security and Development. The NTS Centre brings together myriad NTS stakeholders in regular workshops and roundtable discussions, as well as provides a networking platform for NTS research institutions in the Asia Pacific through the NTS-Asia Consortium.
Tokyo University of Agriculture
(TUA)
The Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA) offers a unique, integrated approach to agricultural education. Studies in the core areas of Agronomy, Life Science, Environmental Science, and Bio-industry Science serve to advance agriculture and to support agriculture’s related industries.
Food Security Center of the University of Hohenheim
(FSC-UHOH)
The Food Security Center (FSC) at the University of Hohenheim, Germany is part of the DAAD program exceed - Higher Education in Development Cooperation. Currently five exceed - Excellence Centers for Exchange and Development at German universities are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). FSC is establishing international networks in the field of food security for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
