The Rice Bown Index: Using Open Data to help drive sustainable and robust food security across Asia/Pacific

The Rice Bowl Index Translating Complexity into an Opportunity for Action

How can we harness knowledge to make agriculture sustainable?

For a more food secure world.

May 1, 2023

Food security is threatened on two fronts: population growth and rising calorie consumptionWorld population> 80% of growth happens in emerging markets

19502.5 billion

20117 billion

20509 billionEmerging

Developed

Source: FAO, Syngenta analysis

1970 2000 2010 2030 20500

1

2

3

4

World demand for major crops*bn tonnes

+50%

* Includes cereals, rice, corn and soybean

FoodFeed

May 1, 2023

There is a vast universe of data and information sources on food security and related topics

May 1, 2023

The RBI distills information from these numerous public sources, with an ultimate aim of facilitating concrete action

May 1, 2023

Introduction to the Rice Bowl Index (RBI)

• Informing and stimulating public dialogue on food security in Asia• Creating and identifying opportunities for concrete action towards improving food security

May 1, 2023

Purpose: contribute to the broader effort of identifying and working towards solutions

•Shift the focus of the debate from problem to solution

•Support an evidence-based dialogue

•Facilitate positive and productive multi-stakeholder dialogue, collaboration and action

•Platform to support partnerships with government, food value chain, NGOs etc.

• Food security high on policy agenda and is increasingly complex

• Food production landscape in Asia is rapidly changing

• Current food security debate is fragmented, problem-centric and opinion-driven

May 1, 2023

Four categories comprise the overall Index…

Farm-LevelDo the farmers have the capability and means to be productive?

Policy and TradeDoes the trade and policy environment encourage open markets, investment and innovation?

EnvironmentalWill the environmental capacity in the country provide for long-term agricultural productivity and sustainability?

Demand and PriceHow will the food security needs in the country evolve? Quantity, affordability, access?

May 1, 2023

…Encompassing both the enabling and disabling factors of food security

May 1, 2023

1. Managing the impacts of climate change within the agrifood system

2. Adopting a new business model for smallholder producers

3. Improving supply chain effectiveness through to market

4. Investing in innovation and infrastructure

5. Creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment

Emerging Challenges to Food Security

May 1, 2023

Thank you

Crossing Thresholds

www.ricebowlindex.com