11/08/2025
"Food of Thought"
When food is grown by farmers to benefit their communities, it can provide nourishment and security without damaging the land. This kind of agriculture can make us stronger, healthier, and more connected to the land, to our culture and to each other.
For instance, the rise in price for imported rice in Malaysia saw consumers chasing cheaper locally grown products - but Malaysia isn't producing enough rice to support our local demand. In the village of LONG SEMADOH Semadoh Adan Rice Semadoh Valley Hospitality Borneo Highland Seed Initiative Sarawak Travel, Malaysia, Borneo in Sarawak though, rice is abundant in both variety and amount - they grow what is known as heirloom rice. These years there have been some of 10-15 rice varieties that have been shared locally among individual farmers around Semaduh Valley Eco-Tourism Local Highland Product , exchanged and sold without any laws restriction. To be able to maintain these practices is crucial for farmers as a seeds saver therefore we saw the raising concern toward UPOV 1991that will restrict the old age farming practice.
I think learning about what food sovereignty is and why it’s important can be a first step into thinking about the sustainability of our food. We can all be more purposeful in how we choose to eat. Local sources of food, such as family farms and community gardens, can help fill in the gaps that agribusinesses have left behind, especially in rural and indigenous communities.
