ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
ORGANIZATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADB supports projects in developing member countries that create economic and development impact, delivered through both public and private sector operations, advisory services, and knowledge support.
Agriculture and Food Security
ADB scales up nature-based solutions and support for climate-smart agriculture across the entire agriculture and food value chains, including the blue economy.
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- Key Challenges
- What ADB Has Done
- What's New
ADB Plans $14 Billion to Ease Food Crisis
ADB announced plans to provide at least $14 billion over 2022-2025 in a comprehensive program of support to ease a worsening food crisis in Asia and the Pacific, and improve long-term food security by strengthening food systems against the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.
The assistance expands ADB’s already significant support for food security in the region, where nearly 1.1 billion people lack healthy diets due to poverty and food prices which have soared to record highs in 2022.
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Despite growing prosperity, hunger and malnutrition persist in Asia and the Pacific. Half of the world's 600 million hungry people live in the region.
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Climate-related disasters and water stress are having severe adverse impacts on food production and supply across Asia and the Pacific.
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Ensuring stable and affordable food supplies is central to keeping millions out of extreme poverty.
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Undernourished people in developing Asia
Although hunger declined between 2001 and 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in developing Asia's undernourished population.
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Agricultural losses from climate-related disasters
Climate related disasters have had a severe impact on agriculture in Asia.
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Food price inflation in developing Asia
Regional food prices have risen steeply, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
ADB is working with its developing member countries (DMCs) to help integrate food production, processing, marketing, and distribution to strengthen the resilience and efficiency of food and agricultural value chains. To transform agriculture in the region, ADB builds partnerships across developing Asia, including the private sector, to tackle difficult challenges such as climate change, nutrition insecurity, and growing water shortages. The region’s aging farming population and changing consumer demands are also important issues for ADB. Climate change resilience and adaptation are built into all ADB agriculture and natural resources projects.
The bank also strives to reduce the volatility of food prices and make food systems less susceptible to external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that has raised prices across the region and driven millions back into extreme poverty. ADB also aims to boost food and agricultural employment, targeting the poor, women, and vulnerable groups.
Our Impact
Results delivered in 2022 from ADB projects.
46.9 million
People benefiting from
increased rural investment
15,000
Farmers using quality farm inputs
and sustainable mechanization
194,000 hectares
Land with higher productivity
Your Questions Answered
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How must agriculture and food production respond to the challenges posed by climate change?
In Asia, 75% of farmers are dependent on agriculture. Climate change is projected to reduce crop productivity by 15% to 20% (or even 50% in some crops) by 2050 in the business-as-usual scenario.
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Are there any proven strategies to minimize food price volatility in the region?
Aside from exempting food supply chains from mobility restrictions and providing short-term financing, ADB also advocates for open trade and the availability of systems and processes to ensure transparency of information on food availability.
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By 2030, regional demand for water is set to exceed supply by nearly 40%, what needs to be done to reduce this huge gap?
ADB promotes the efficient use of water resources to help increase the climate resilience of agri-food systems. As of 2021, irrigation ($2 billion), water-based natural resources management ($1 billion), and rural flood protection ($477 million) are among ADB’s top investments in agriculture and natural resources.
What's New
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| News Releases, News from Country Offices
ADB to Help Improve Water Management and Agricultural Productivity in Bangladesh
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| News Releases, News Release
New ADB Grants to Support Food Security and Health Services for the Afghan People Through United Nations
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| Development Asia
Transforming Fergana Valley into Central Asia’s Hub for Growth and Connectivity
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| Article
Q&A: How ADB and Australia are Helping Agribusiness in Samoa through Finance and Support Services
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| News Releases, News from Country Offices
ADB Approves $85 Million Loan for Horticulture Development in Indonesia
