Valuation of non-marketed agricultural ecosystem services, and food security in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Food security, closely linked with environmental issues, has become one of the most important issues in the twenty-first century. In recent decades especially, ecological degradation has been spreading, and is negatively affecting food supply and food safety conditions in many Southeast Asian countries. Such degradation can include sedimentation, reduced water quality, and frequent flood occurrence, many of which are enhanced by climate change impacts. Based on an international research project conducted by RIHN (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature) in collaboration with Yokohama National University and the University of the Philippines, we discuss the recent changes in food risks and the factors contributing to expansion of such risks in Southeast Asia. Our study demonstrates that non-marketed ecosystem services from sustainable agricultural land use can provide significant economic value, and developing a mechanism to pay for ecosystem services is crucial in enhancing sustainable agricultural development.