Thailand ranks 13th among world food exporters, accounting for 2.3% of the global food market, valued at approximately 1.1 billion baht. However, according to the GermanWatch Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Thailand ranks ninth out of 180 countries for long-term climate risk. Climate risk affects Thailand in several aspects, especially in tourism and agriculture.
Last year, El Niño resulted in droughts, impacting agricultural production in Thailand. It led to lower than expected yields of key crops such as rice, sugar cane, cassava, rubber and animal feed maize. The cumulative estimated economic losses for 2023 were over 48 billion baht.
Additionally, the World Bank has stated that climate change will push more than 130 million people into poverty over the next 10 years and widen the inequality gap. To raise awareness of food security, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation recently held the "Food Security, Safety And Sustainability For Future Generations" forum at the Wellness Learning Center of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation Office.
Asst Prof Chol Bunnag, a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, explained that according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, food security consists of four pillars: availability, access, utilisation and stability.
"Food availability refers to the availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality. Food access pertains to individuals having access to adequate resources for acquiring food for a nutritious diet. The utilisation of food means to achieve a state of nutritional well-being, including an adequate diet, access to clean water, sanitation and health care. Stability refers to a population, household or individual having access to adequate food at all times," said Asst Prof Chol.
Kritsada Boonchai, the secretariat of the Local Development Institute, explained that during the ancient and colonial periods, food security was used to enhance power and expand nations. From the Industrial Revolution to the present, food security has facilitated the growth of cities and industries.
"Food security is essential for the growth of both the industrial and urban sectors. Food is made affordable for consumption by labourers in industries without concern for the survival of food producers or the sustainability of resources. After the Green Revolution, the ecosystem and biological diversity were damaged. Two out of three areas in the world have become commercial agricultural areas and there is slash and burn agriculture in many countries," said Mr Kritsada.
Mr Kritsada suggested that when discussing food security, people should look beyond "food" since it connects economic development and various circumstances of different groups of people. Regarding the government, Mr Kritsada said that food security is the government's responsibility and it must care for farmers. Every government must implement crop pledging schemes as it is a necessary policy.
As for food industry conglomerates, they dominate the system by controlling plant variety, production, marketing and consumption.
"Biodiversity is limited to only a few kinds of plants. Production factors are also controlled by the industry as well as consumers' taste preferences. A study discovered that compared to 50 years ago, present-day food has sweeter and stronger flavours. The food industry encourages people to consume more sugar. It is not just personal taste," said Mr Kritsada.
"From the perspective of food academics, the focus on safety does not address structural development. As a result, farmers and ecosystems are neglected. For low-income people, food security means having enough income to afford food. They are not concerned about the chemicals in their food or whether it is organic. Food security for farmers refers to protecting and reviving ecosystems and plant biodiversity," Mr Kritsada added.
Although Thailand has a lot of resources, Asst Prof Chol warned that people should not overlook food security issues. He cited a report in 2021 by the Food and Agriculture Organization, which stated that the Covid-19 pandemic increased food insecurity for 7% of the total population. In 2019, the number of thin and frail children younger than five increased by 13%. Although the number may seem small, Asst Prof Chol said it is alarming since Thailand has abundant resources.
"Food security issues do not involve only people, but they also affect many other aspects such as distribution, ecosystem and biodiversity," said Asst Prof Chol.
Mr Kritsada mentioned a government study which reported on negative effects on the ecosystem and food security.
"Around 75% of economic crops depend on cross-pollination by bees. However, the bee population has declined due to chemicals, causing a decrease in food production. Building dams in the Mekong River can have a negative impact on the global ecosystem too. The dams have caused people in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam to lose resources, biodiversity and food security," said Mr Kritsada.
"There are an estimated 6,400 mammalian and 11,000 avian species in our ecosystem. However, only 40 mammalian and avian species have been domesticated for food and agriculture. Over 6,000 species of plants have been cultivated for food and agriculture, but fewer than 200 species have production levels globally. This means biodiversity has not been utilised and is at risk of being destroyed because people do not recognise the value of many species," Mr Kritsada added.
To prevent issues related to food security, Asst Prof Chol suggested things to consider.
"There should be a way to connect and collaborate with different government organisations and a third sector. Then, we should consider if there is any budget for food security and where the budget will come from. Many researchers have examined agriculture and agricultural sustainability. However, these studies are not practical. We need research to be undertaken systemically from the first step of agricultural sustainability to the end," said Asst Prof Chol.
Mr Kritsada brought up a demand during COP28 (the United Nations Climate Change Conference) to transform food systems for people, nature and the climate.
"The first agenda is supporting frontline people in the food system such as farmers, indigenous people and communities. Other significant goals for the food system are to maintain global temperatures not in excess of 1.5C above preindustrial levels, reduce the greenhouse effect and support renewable energy. To address hunger among individuals, families, or communities, we need to improve the environment to help people access food. For example, if people in poverty do not have land to grow food, there should be an arrangement to help these people access abandoned plots," said Mr Kritsada.
"The current irrigation system, which covers only 26% of the country, should be expanded to more areas. Instead of promoting a debt moratorium plan, the government should promote incentive conditions such as marketing for products or providing knowledge. Reviving biodiversity is crucial since a tiny area of soil can absorb a lot of carbon. If Thailand uses 20% of agricultural land for ecological agriculture, it can significantly help reduce global warming," concluded Mr Kritsada.
