From Crisis to Convenience: Asia’s Food System Transformation over 60 Years

From Crisis to Convenience: Asia’s Food System Transformation over 60 Years

A catered lunch will be available from 11:30 AM for in-person attendees.

Description:

Over the past 60 years, Asia’s food systems have experienced rapid economic and cultural transformations. Most countries in the region have eradicated famine, achieved food self-sufficiency, and reduced poverty to varying degrees. While the transformation of food systems across Asian nations shares some common elements, it has also been shaped by unique factors, including structural changes, political dynamics, global economic integration, and technological advances.

This presentation examines the evolution of food systems in seven Asian countries from the 1960s to the 2020s, driven by economic, social, and demographic forces. It explores how the region dramatically reduced hunger and achieved food grain self-sufficiency, a goal once deemed unattainable. Growth in agricultural productivity boosted incomes and shifted consumer demand toward a higher quantity, improved quality, and greater diversity of foods. It highlights changing consumer preferences, influenced by globalization and trade, which fueled the expansion of retail markets and the rise in processed food consumption. These changes, especially since the early 21st century, have contributed to increased obesity rates in both lower- and upper-middle-income countries. The presentation also explores how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitization of food markets, permanently altering how food is accessed and consumed. In conclusion, the research addresses the future challenges facing Asia’s food systems, including hunger, malnutrition, rising non-communicable diseases, and the growing impact of climate change, while suggesting potential solutions to tackle these issues.

Biography:

Mathew Abraham is the Assistant Director of the Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) for Agriculture and Nutrition at the Department of Global Development, College of Agriculture and Life Science at Cornell University. The Institute focuses on addressing issues of poverty, hunger and malnutrition, and sustainable development in India and other developing countries.

Mathew has a background in agricultural economics and international development. His work often involves collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, including academic researchers, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, to implement evidence-based solutions that drive economic growth and improve nutritional outcomes. At TCI, Mathew coordinates research activities, offers strategic guidance and support for project implementation.

Before taking on his current role, Mathew joined TCI as a post-doctoral associate in August 2015, after completing his Ph.D. from the Department of International Economics and Management, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark. Before joining TCI, he worked at the Centre Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. His research focuses on evaluation methodologies, agricultural value chains and markets, farmer-producer organizations, food security in developing countries, technology, and institutional innovation for agricultural development.