ASEAN–South Korea cooperation key to strengthening regional food security

 

IN the wake of the ongoing war in the Middle East, food security has become an increasingly serious issue. Concerns over fertiliser shortages and supply chain disruptions mean that citizens of Malaysia and much of Southeast Asia are now bracing for rising prices and potential food shortages.

As the region works to mitigate immediate economic pressures, long-term structural reforms are also needed to address food security vulnerabilities.

For Southeast Asia, strengthening regional and international cooperation in agriculture has been an ongoing effort for decades. Food security has been an ASEAN priority since the 1970s, following the establishment of the ASEAN Food Security Reserve in 1979.

At last year’s 2025 ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, member states reaffirmed this commitment under the “2045 ASEAN document”, which identifies food security, alongside poverty eradication, as a key regional goal.

Overall, ASEAN member states face varying degrees of food security vulnerability. According to the Global Food Security Index (2022), many ASEAN countries score poorly in sustainability and adaptability.

These weaknesses are becoming increasingly visible as the region experiences dry El Niño conditions and resource pressures linked to global conflicts.

Against this backdrop, current challenges should serve as a catalyst for more comprehensive structural reforms in regional food systems. One way forward is to deepen cooperation with like-minded partners to strengthen agriculture and food supply chains.

Insights from a Korea Foundation-supported research grant with Universiti Malaya on ASEAN–South Korea food security cooperation highlight both existing frameworks and untapped opportunities, including case studies from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

At the regional level, South Korea has long been an active partner in the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve. In March 2026, South Korea donated 3,000 metric tonnes of rice as assistance following the Myanmar earthquake, in addition to another 3,000 tonnes disbursed the previous year.

Over time, South Korea has expanded cooperation beyond sector-specific support towards a broader, multidimensional partnership aligned with ASEAN-led food security initiatives.

These include the Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (AFACI), which supports agricultural research for productivity and sustainable farming.

South Korea has also contributed to the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS), including ICT-based agricultural data systems such as the National Agri-food Information System (NAIS), enabling countries to use digital and geospatial tools for agricultural monitoring.

Within bilateral cooperation frameworks, technology upgrading and agri-tech development have been key priorities between South Korea and ASEAN partners.

For more developed economies such as Singapore, South Korea serves as a strategic trade partner for diversifying food imports while supporting collaborative research and agricultural innovation. Similar efforts are being pursued across other ASEAN member states.

There is also strong emphasis on improving farming systems and technologies, including resilient crops and smart agriculture centres. In Thailand, cooperation includes low-emission rice cultivation techniques. In Indonesia, efforts focus on smart greenhouses and cold chain logistics improvements to reduce food loss.

Malaysia is also part of this movement. The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry has signed an MOU with its South Korean counterpart to further explore R&D collaboration in strengthening the agricultural sector.

Initiatives include improving livestock health monitoring systems and researching higher-yield crop varieties.

ASEAN and its member states should continue building on this strong foundation. Strengthening cooperation with partners such as South Korea aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and provides a pathway for the region to better withstand future food security challenges. 

Dr Nurliana Kamaruddin and Dr Geetha Govindasamy are senior lecturers at the Department of East Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Malaya.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT. 

- Focus Malaysia.