Securing food futures in the Asia-Pacific: human securitising regional frameworks

The global food crisis of 2007 and 2008 drew attention to the importance of food security as a regional challenge for the Asia-Pacific. Regional strategies to achieve food security have recognised the need to provide immediate remedial support to alleviate hunger and restore livelihoods, to enhance capacity to anticipate food uncertainties and to strengthen resilience to the impacts of future food disasters. A human security approach seeks to ensure that people are at the centre of regional food security frameworks, not just through identifying who are food insecure or food vulnerable, but also through ensuring that policies and programmes are participatory and transparent, respond to local needs, and acknowledge community rights.