Events

CHAIRPERSON

Prof Tim Bunnell, Asia Research Institute, and Department of Geography, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

This event will introduce ARI’s newest research cluster – Food Politics and Society (FPS). The study of food in its many dimensions of late has taken off in Asia and FPS is well positioned to capitalize on this growing dynamism. The cluster aims to be an interdisciplinary forum where world-class scholars can exchange ideas and collaborate on projects to not only further the latest trends in research on food, but it hopes to forge new paths on food studies as well. This launch will discuss the impetus behind the formation of the cluster, some of its main areas of focus, as well as the people involved. The launch will be highlighted by a presentation of the cluster’s inaugural postdoctoral fellow, Dr Shumeng Li, a recent graduate of Cornell University. She will present her research on sales organizations and consumers trust in the informal organic food market in China as work representative of the research interests of FPS.

In conjunction with the launch of FPS, this event will also take advantage of the opportunity to present a recently edited volume by the cluster’s head, Assoc Prof Jamie Davidson. The 2023 publication examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rice sector in five Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore). Assoc Prof Davidson will provide an overview of the book’s findings, while one of the contributing authors, Jose Luis Montesclaros from Nanyang Technological University, will present his co-authored chapter on Singapore.

PROGRAM

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Jamie S. Davidson is Associate Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore. He re-joined the Asia Research Institute in 2021 and now heads its latest cluster – Food Politics and Society. He has nearly twenty-five years of experience of teaching and writing on the politics of Southeast Asia, and especially that of Indonesia. His books and articles have focused on a range of issues, including ethnic violence, indigenous peoples’ activism, law and society, infrastructure, democratisation, and, most recently, rice politics. Jamie sits on a number of editorial boards for book series and journals.

Shumeng Li is Postdoctoral Fellow in the Food, Politics and Society Cluster at Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore. She attained her PhD in Sociology from Cornell University, New York, USA in May 2023. Her research focuses on the value chain in Chinese agriculture, food consumption and class identities, and knowledge production in agriculture. During her stay at ARI, she will work on publishing her dissertation chapters and start a new project on online food consumption.

Jose Ma. Luis Montesclaros is Research Fellow with the Centre of Non-Traditional Security Studies at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where he is concurrently a PhD candidate (International Political Economy). He was the co-investigator of the “Enhancing Food Supply Chain Resilience and Food Security in ASEAN with Utilisation of Digital Technologies” project, which involved conducting an assessment of digital technology adoption in ASEAN agriculture, supported by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia and the ASEAN Secretariat. He previously provided inputs to Singapore’s Inter-Ministry Committee on Food Security as well. He obtained his Master’s in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore, as an ASEAN Scholar, and his BS Economics degree from the University of the Philippines, and was one of the two “Leaders of Tomorrow” representing LKYSPP at the 44th Saint Gallen Wings of Excellence Awards (Switzerland) in 2014.

REGISTRATION

Registration is closed. However, we welcome walk-ins to join us if there are available seats.