Food security: We know the issues, we have solutions, we just need to act

MALAYSIA’S food security has once again returned to the spotlight, this time triggered by another geopolitical crisis. Yet for those who have studied and worked within the country’s food system, this conversation is far from new – it is uncomfortably familiar.

Over the years, experts and practitioners have consistently pointed to the same vulnerabilities: heavy import dependence, structural bottlenecks across the supply chain, and persistent gaps in distribution and access. These are not emerging issues. What is striking today is not a lack of knowledge, but a convergence of evidence. We already know where the problems lie. And yet, progress in addressing them remains slow.