The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) released on Tuesday (Oct 16) placed Singapore at the top of the list, a jump of three places from last year (2017) and for the first time, it has topped the ranking since the listing of 113 countries was started in 2012 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
The 113 countries were selected based on regional diversity, economic importance and population size. They were assessed on four categories – affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience, which is “the ability to bounce back from a shock or disaster, ideally better off than before”.
Singapore’s high score was largely due to its strength in the affordability component of the index.
However, the report also noted that Singapore’s food security is the most susceptible to climate and natural resource risks, with the import-dependent country facing potential disruptions to its food supply.
The risks include exposure to climate changes, such as a rise in temperature, drought and flooding, and the health of land and water resources.
When these risks are taken into account, Singapore ranks 16th among the 113 countries, with Switzerland in top spot.
Singapore depends heavily on food imports, with over 90% of food brought in from overseas, according to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) website. Only a small amount of food is produced locally.
An AVA spokesman told The Straits Times that Singapore’s food security is vulnerable to global driving forces and trends, such as population growth, rising urbanisation and incomes, climate change, disease outbreaks and scarcity of resources.
The agency has diversified import sources from 140 countries in 2004 to 180 last year (2017).
It helps local farmers through the $63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) to boost production capabilities, and appoints to each farm an account manager from AVA to advise farmers on technology adoption and such areas as business development.
It also encourages agricultural players to expand to other countries, from where the produce can be exported back to Singapore, thereby strengthening food security.
Despite the risks to the climate and natural resources which may disrupt trade routes and supply chains, Singapore is well placed to face them because of its financial strength.
Along with the Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Singapore has a smaller proportion of its population living below the poverty line, compared to the other countries in the index.
On the whole, the global food security outlook has improved, with over 70% of countries improving their scores from last year (2017). Lower-middle-income and low-income countries made the most substantial gains, according to the report.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA), which will take over food-related work currently done by the AVA, National Environment Agency and Health Sciences Authority, is expected to boost food safety standards for consumers and strengthen local food businesses.
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Source: The Straits Times, 18 October 2018