Asia Sustainability Dialogue 2024

About the event

By 2050, the global population will hit 9.8 billion people, according to the UN. That’s almost 2 billion more mouths to feed than today.

This growth is particularly pronounced in Asia, which is expected to add around 250 million people in just the next decade. The rising demand for protein-rich and resource-heavy, animal-based foods, coupled with the growing threats from climate change to crop yields, spells trouble for food availability and pricing.

We need more food—a lot more: over 50% more than we currently produce. Our existing food systems just aren’t up to the task of adequatly feeding billions more without seriously harming the planet.

There’s a shift happening, though. More sustainable food production is taking root right where most people live—in cities. Innovations like plant-based meats and vertical farming are drawing big interest and investments in Europe and Asia.

But there’s ways to go, still. Farmers the world over need greater financial security to invest in new, sustainable production methods at scale.
Also, a staggering amount of food never makes it from the farm to our tables. In Southeast Asia alone, about a quarter of all rice, fruits, and vegetables is lost before it can be eaten. And overconsumption in Europe is causing food shortages elsewhere.

The Asia Sustainability Dialogue, organized by Asia Society Switzerland and Swiss Re Institute, looks at what needs to be done to feed 10 billion people sustainably. How can we ensure there’s enough food of the right quality for everyone in the long term, without exhausting the planet?

Hear from people at the forefront of food, sharing their real-world experiences and ideas on how we produce it, consume it, and can sustain it for the future.