The World Food Summit held in Rome in 1996, adopted the concept of food security defined along three dimensions (i) physical availability of food, (ii) economic and physical access to food, and (iii)utilization (a nutritional concern) of food. Often referred to as the fourth dimension, stability is considered implicit and necessary for achieving the first three. Ensuring stability in terms of availability, access and utilization of food has long been a central concern for national governments, and more recently global multilateral institutions concerned with food and agriculture.

There are many paths to ensure food stability for countries. International food markets and trade have been considered as one of the most efficient ways for centuries. Similarly, pursuing self-sufficiency policies and ensuring the production of all required food within the country has been another strategy of choice. However, neither has proved to be successful or efficient, all of the time, in the past.

Of late, especially in the aftermath of the world food (price) crisis in 2007/2008 and 2011 when the international food markets were extremely volatile, governments have been revisiting one of the oldest strategies to ensure greater stability – that of maintaining food stockpiles. Countries which have adequate food stocks can weather global food price shocks, local supply shocks from failed harvests, income shocks (from economic downturns or exchange rate shocks), disruptions in trade due to export bans, as well as during times of emergencies and calamities. As to what extent and how stockpiling can help build resilience and allow for a more robust food system continues to be debated globally.

This RSIS policy brief, based on intensive field studies in South and Southeast Asia and extensive literature review, aims to highlight some of the issues on stockpiling of food and offers some views on the policy implications of pursuing such a strategy.