The Future of Food and Agriculture: Scenarios of Increased Public Investments and Policy Reforms for Asia and the Pacific
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Publication Type:
Publisher:
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Publication:
December 2025
This brief explores ways to improve food systems across Asia and the Pacific, considering projected demographic changes and economic growth.
Asia and the Pacific needs an estimated $68 billion annually to improve food security.
Redirecting input subsidies toward priority investments could significantly impact outcomes. Increased investment and policy reforms in agriculture and food systems could improve food security, save water, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Public investments in agricultural research, irrigation, and rural infrastructure could cut hunger for 102 million people by 2035 and another 90 million by 2050, while boosting income by 2%–6% across Asia and the Pacific by 2050.
This policy brief presents key findings from an updated assessment of priority investment and policy scenarios designed to transform agriculture and food systems across Asia and the Pacific, considering projected demographic changes and economic growth. The assessment emphasizes that boosting investments in agricultural research and development (R&D), irrigation, and rural infrastructure, combined with repurposing subsidies toward productive investments, can significantly advance key food system goals by 2050. These strategies bolster critical aspects of the region’s food system, including agricultural production, infrastructure, market access, value chains, and resource efficiency.
