As the world population edged to seven billion – up from 2.5 billion in 1950 – it has had profound implications for development, with effects on sustainability, urbanisation, and access to health services and youth empowerment. Some of the implications of overpopulation include significant food and water shortages. Despite the economies of Asia and the Pacific far out-growing the average global economic expansion, over 700 million people in Asia and the Pacific still live in abject poverty (defined as living on less than US$1.25 each day).

Reasons for food insecurity are extremely wide ranging and include rising populations and increased consumerism, which will naturally turn out in an increasing demand for food. In particular, according to FAO, the global demand for food is expected to increase by 60 per cent by 2050.

The second annual AIDF Food Security Summit: Asia 2014 is taking place in Jakarta on the 8 and 9 October 2014. Over 300 regional governments, NGOs, UN and intergovernmental agencies, investors, research institutes and private sector companies will gather to discuss important issues facing food security in agriculture and nutrition sectors.

The two day summit is expected to provoke robust debate and frank information sharing and will provide a platform for the formation of strategic partnerships and collaborations. The aim of the discussions is to lead to innovative solutions and best practice to tackle the problems surrounding food insecurity in Asia and the Pacific.

Keynote speakers include: H.E. Dr Harbrinderjit Singh Dillon, Special Envoy to the President of Indonesia for Poverty Alleviation, Anita Kendrick at World Bank, Katinka Weinberger, Director of CAPSA at UNESCAP, Dr Klaus Kraemer, Director of Sight and Life, Prateek Gupta, Director at Helen Keller International, Dr Gatot Irianto, Director General of Agriculture Infrastructure and Facility at the Ministry of Agriculture of Indonesia.

In additional to well-known global experts this summit also offers unique regional insights from food security experts in Indonesia, including Dr Suprayoga Hadi, Deputy Minister for the Development for Resources Development at the Ministry for the Development of Disadvantaged Regions in Indonesia, Dr Minarto, President of the Indonesian Nutritionist Association, Dr Elvina Karyadi, Country Director for Indonesia’s Micronutrient Initiative and Dr Ir. Pak Haryono, Director General of Indonesian Agency for Agriculture Research and Development.

Commenting on the upcoming summit, project director Sonja Ruetzel said: “I call for all key industry stakeholders in Asia Pacific, including the private sector companies, to attend this important and timely event. Based on the discussions at last year’s AIDF Food Security summit and continuous research this event aims to take the debate a step further and really push for change and set a framework for action engaging all actors.”

This year’s event is supported by a wide range of strategic partners including: FMC Agricultural Solutions, FrieslandCampina, Glanbia Nutritionals, Valmont - Valley Irrigation, Kubota Corporation, Inve Technologies and also influential supporting partners including AgroPages, CropLife Asia, AsianNGO, IRIN, CIAT, World Agroforestry Centre, Switch-Asia and many more.

For more information and registrations visit http://food-security.aidforum.org.