The sharp increase in wheat consumption in Asia has posed a major threat to regional food security.

(Reuters file photo)

[Compiled by Wei Guojin/Taipei Report] According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, the increasing wheat consumption in Asia has become the main source of regional security concerns.

In the past 10 years, Asian wheat consumption has increased by more than 30%. Staple foods such as bread and noodles made of wheat are almost as common as rice. However, it is not easy to grow wheat in Asia, forcing many countries to rely on imports. The war between Ukraine has posed a serious threat to regional food security.

Nobuhiro Suzuki, a professor at the University of Tokyo, warned the Japanese government that "it is necessary to provide active support to domestic grain producers in order to increase production. If there is a disturbance in maritime transportation that hinders our imports, then no matter how much we spend on defense, we will not be able to protect the country".

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The report pointed out that in view of the rising tension in the Taiwan Strait, this is not a far-fetched scenario. Japan and other Asian countries are now facing a test in terms of their ability to solve food security problems.

Grain supplies in Asia are particularly vulnerable to geopolitical risks, the report said.

According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, wheat consumption in major Asian countries will reach 337 million tons in 2021, an increase of 34% over 2010. During the same period, rice consumption will only increase by 14%, and wheat consumption excluding China will increase by 35% to 189 million tons .

The consumption of wheat in the Philippines and Vietnam has doubled in 10 years. In Vietnam, ramen noodles are as popular as rice noodles. According to data from the World Instant Noodle Association, Vietnam consumed 8.56 billion packets of ramen noodles last year, more than More than 50% in Japan.

The increase in wheat consumption could lead to shifts in supply chains, said Jules Hugot, a trade economist at the Asian Development Bank.

But this view assumes that imports are unimpeded.

Unlike rice, wheat is difficult to grow in many parts of Southeast Asia due to high temperature and humidity.

Wheat consumption in Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia is almost entirely dependent on imports.

United Nations data show that Malaysia relies on Ukraine for more than 20 percent of its wheat imports, while Bangladesh relies on Russia for more than 15 percent.

Many Asian countries are looking to India after Russia invaded Ukraine; China and India are major wheat producers in Asia.

However, in May, India announced a ban on wheat exports to give priority to supplying its own market.

Many Asian countries then struggled to secure alternative sources of supply.

Asian countries disagreed with Russia's trade sanctions. Bangladesh finally reached an agreement with Russia to import 500,000 tons of wheat, and delivered 52,500 tons of wheat in October.

The agreement shows Bangladesh's heavy dependence on Russian wheat, a deal that is much cheaper than imports from the US and Europe.

The Ukrainian-Russian War also impacted Japan.

Japan, which relies on imports for 90 percent of its wheat supply, must now compete with other countries for U.S. wheat supplies.

Some Japanese food companies, including Yamazaki Bakery and Nissin Milling, have raised prices.