Cultivating Change EP#5 Research Notes with Elyssa Kaur Ludher

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In this episode, we explore the intersection between climate change, food security, and sustainable agriculture in Southeast Asia with policy researcher Elyssa Kaur Ludher. She is currently a Visiting Fellow with the Climate Change for Southeast Asia Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

#5: From Urban Planner to Food Policy Researcher

Elyssa shares how she went from a life in urban planning to agricultural research influenced by her volunteer work in rural Cambodia. Our discussion covers the multifaceted impacts of climate change on agriculture, including its effects on smallholder farmers, soil health, fisheries, and overall agricultural productivity in the region. We delve into the concept of urban agriculture and how technological advancements can help grow food intensively in small spaces, bringing food production closer to consumers.

Additionally, she examines the role of smallholder farmers, their productivity compared to large farms, and the multiple challenges they face, such as aging demographics, urbanisation, and land fragmentation.

Our conversation sheds light on the complex dynamics of food security and self-sufficiency as well as the emerging innovative policy and funding approaches required, such as carbon farming, to build resilient and sustainable food systems in Southeast Asia.

Show notes

[00:03:45] Going from a city girl to life as a researchers in agriculture.
[00:06:15] Realising the struggles of smallholder farmers such asweather, the climate. government policy etc.
[00:08:45] Understanding the nexus between food and climate change - discussing smallholders,food security and Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to climate change.
[00:13:45] How climate change is being affected by the current agricultural system - carbon dioxide, fossil fuels, soil degradation, types of crops ad dependence on imported fertilisers
[00:19:00] Overview of Southeast Asia’s agriculture - exports, imports and self-sufficiency.
[00:21:45] Demographics of smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia and the challenges they face including age, land ownership, inheritance and leases, climate change, urbanisation and other socio-economic problems.
[00:27:30] Examples of countries and areas that have farming and smallholder policies that could be of interest for ASEAN to learn from including China, Europe.
[00:32:00] Discussion of novel technologies in resolving some of the issues in agriculture and aquaculture such as insect farming, carbon farming, technology based solutions and the lack of funding for various solutions.
[00:38:15] Examples of specific issues Southeast Asian food production is facing and specific solutions that can be executed on the ground and from a policy level to address them.
[00:41:30] Vietnam as an example of a Southeast Asian nation that is committed to addressing issues in agriculture through regenerative means.
[00:45:45] Elyssa’s recommendations on what everyday urban consumers can do to connect and understand food systems and the challenges of smallholders better.

Additional Resources

1. Connect with Elyssa on LinkedIn here.
2. To learn about the effects of El Nino on paddy farming check out this article .
3. For more of Elyssa’s analysis on Southeast Asia’s response to climate change read this article.
4. Watch this informative series of short videos on climate change and food security by ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute here.

Special thanks to Elyssa Kaur Ludher, Visiting Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute researching policy and novel solutions for agriculture and food availability in Southeast Asia as it adapts to climate change.

Senior producer and host: Nova Nelson.
Executive Producer and researcher: Tamanna Patel.
Music courtesy of Patrizio from Pixabay.
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About Cultivating Change

Cultivating Change is a podcast about people and communities shaping local regenerative food and agricultural systems in Southeast Asia.

We speak to farmers, smallholders and urban growers, food producers, researchers, environmentalists, entrepreneurs and various individuals that are re-imagining, designing and creating healthier more sustainable food futures and landscapes from the ground up.

Our mission? To explore questions and find answers about the vital aspects of our food system, why it matters to your well-being, and the seismic impact it has on the environment in Southeast Asia. It's not just a podcast; it's a recipe for change.