Food Problem in Small Island Developing States of Asia and Oceania

The food problem is particularly critical for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). According to the UN classification, the Maldives, Singapore, and Timor-Leste are categorized as Asian SIDS, while the SIDS of Oceania include 12 island states located in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. These countries face numerous challenges, including the scarcity and degradation of arable land, declining agricultural output, limited fresh water resources, frequent extreme weather events (such as storms and floods), rising sea levels, reduced rainfall, and prolonged dry spells. Due to these constraints, SIDS are heavily reliant on food imports and thus vulnerable to fluctuations in global food prices. The food insecurity they experience is evident not only in increased levels of undernourishment and deficiencies in essential nutrients, but also in a high prevalence of obesity, driven by unbalanced diet. With support from the international community, Asian and Oceanian SIDS are striving to enhance food security through innovations in the production of agricultural raw materials and processed foods, the development of national distribution networks, and greater integration into global value chains. Their government programs increasingly emphasize the technological modernization of food systems, particularly through digitalization.