ABSTRACT
Emerging countries in South and Southeast Asia – the epicentre of the ‘new consumer’1 phenomenon – are experiencing an increase in consumption like never before (Myers and Kent 2004: 7). This rise in consumption, which includes food, has undeniable adverse environmental and social impacts. A deeper understanding of local practices and policies2 across the entire life cycle of food can positively influence sustainability3 in the region. Currently, policies in most Asian countries are usually framed based on those drafted in developed countries, and are carried out by government ministries that are interconnected in the real world through linkages in resource consumption and disposal, but disjointed in their administrative duties. The life cycle of food illustrates these interconnections: for example, organic fertilizer (such as compost) that comes from food waste can be used in organic agriculture. But waste management and agriculture are usually governed by separate ministries that do not collaborate on building and enforcing policies that interconnect these areas. A life cycle approach that takes into account local practices and encourages cohesive policies is the need of the hour.
