Regulation can bolster Asean’s food and energy resilience

WHILE the world holds its collective breath in the wake of the provisional ceasefire in Iran, the conflict and developments at the Strait of Hormuz have painfully illustrated the interconnection between energy and food.

The off-again, on-again passage through the channel of critical fertilisers, oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies are affecting availability and prices, keeping experts from both sectors busy adjusting and readjusting forecasts.

Food and energy security have always been intertwined at the crossroads of food, feed, fibre and fuel. In Asean, their shared space also includes policy and regulatory gaps that hinder regional resilience.