31 December 2010
NTS Perspectives (Issue No. 4 – Dec 2010) | The Case for Urban Food Security: A Singapore Perspective
Abstract
The state of food security can differ in urban and rural environments, as well as in net food-importing and net food-exporting countries. Considering food security in a general manner is no longer adequate for planning anticipatory and response strategies. In this NTS Perspectives, we propose the concept of Urban Food Security, and discuss the need to circumscribe the concept in order to identify more cogent approaches to de-securitise the issues in urban food insecurity. The discussion is placed in the Singapore context and is characterised by the need to develop successful strategies to ensure security in an urban, high-income and net food-importing country. Singapore is illustrative of the global urbanisation process and the issues arising from the development of megacities.
Abstract
The state of food security can differ in urban and rural environments, as well as in net food-importing and net food-exporting countries. Considering food security in a general manner is no longer adequate for planning anticipatory and response strategies. In this NTS Perspectives, we propose the concept of Urban Food Security, and discuss the need to circumscribe the concept in order to identify more cogent approaches to de-securitise the issues in urban food insecurity. The discussion is placed in the Singapore context and is characterised by the need to develop successful strategies to ensure security in an urban, high-income and net food-importing country. Singapore is illustrative of the global urbanisation process and the issues arising from the development of megacities.
