Food Security in the Mekong Region

This December 2021 Issue investigates the issues, dynamics, opportunities, and challenges of food security in Mekong countries. COVID-19 has had adverse impacts on the region. The negative impacts are rising poverty levels and growing food insecurity across the region. However, the Mekong region presents opportunities for boosting food production and supplies. It can become a major powerhouse to produce and supply food for the region and beyond. However, some challenges need to be addressed, such as climate change, floods and droughts, as well as a lack of access to good credit and appropriate technology. The articles in this Issue will illustrate these and other relevant issues about food insecurity. If the Mekong region needs to leverage its advantages, more government and private sector investment in food security are needed. Promoting agriculture and the food industry provides income and employment for people.

This publication collects intellectual insights from researchers and scholars from inside and outside the Mekong region. The extent of social and economic losses from the prolonged pandemic has been discussed, and the contributing scholars have offered some practical insights and policy recommendations for post-COVID-19 economic recovery. In addition to the policy suggestions offered in this Issue, we encourage more robust debates and studies to provide more enriched analysis.

We would like to acknowledge the intellectual contributions and appreciate the efforts of the following authors to this December Issue, namely Dr Le Trung Kien, Ms Yan Sophorn, Dr Wee Chian Koh, Dr Kimlong Chheng, Mr Sophea Chuon, Ms Setthikun Sun, Ms Monypachpor Ly, Mr Seng Sopheak, Dr Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, Dr Le Phuong Cat Nhi, Huynh Ho Dai Nghia, Dr John Walsh, Dr Nittana Southiseng, Ms Piyaporn Wongruang, and Mr Sayan Chuenudomsavad. Our special thanks also go to KAS Cambodia’s team, namely Dr Daniel Schmücking, Ms Likhedy Touch, and Ms Isabel Weininger. We also wish to thank AVI President Dr Chheang Vannarith and the AVI Secretariate team for their support and assistance.