The Food Security Challenge
Speaking at the ASEAN-EU Business Summit 2025, Michael Wu, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, began with an alarming fact: ‘One in every ten food transport vehicles never reaches the dining tables of families.’
Mr. Michael Wu speaking at the summit – Photo: DNCC
This statistic not only highlights food waste but also sounds the alarm on food insecurity—a pressing challenge for the region. The business representative emphasized the urgency of establishing a sustainable food system to minimize economic losses and achieve economic and social goals.
He argued that focusing solely on production, without addressing processing, preservation, and distribution, would prevent ASEAN from fully resolving the food security challenge.
This is where businesses excel, leveraging advanced processing technologies, particularly UHT sterilization solutions. These innovations ensure food retains its nutritional value and safety for 6-12 months without preservatives or refrigeration.
Tetra Pak’s paper-based packaging solutions enhance access to safe food across Southeast Asia – Photo: DNCC
Paper-based packaging is also highlighted as a scalable, sustainable solution that ensures food safety and broadens access to diverse consumer groups.
In rural or mountainous communities with limited infrastructure, comprehensive processing and packaging solutions make a significant difference, delivering food to more families at reasonable costs.
Ms. Ratanasiri Tilokskulchai during the panel discussion – Photo: DNCC
During the panel discussion ‘Feeding Tomorrow: Safe, Accessible, and Sustainable Nutrition for ASEAN,’ Ratanasiri Tilokskulchai, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Thailand, underscored the role of public-private partnerships in addressing food security.
The company has made a difference through its school milk programs, providing 66 million children in over 42 countries with safer daily nutrition.
In Malaysia, Tetra Pak collaborates with local producers to supply school milk to over 800,000 students annually. In Indonesia, it supports the Ministry of Education and Culture’s ‘Milk for Future Generations’ program.
In Vietnam, since 2006, Tetra Pak has partnered with stakeholders to implement the School Milk Program, reaching tens of millions of children with safe nutrition.
In July, the company expanded its Binh Duong plant to increase food packaging supply capacity for the region, enhancing access to safe nutrition.
Partnering for a Sustainable Food System Transformation
Tetra Pak’s commitments and actions at the summit align with regional development goals, including Vietnam’s.
Vietnam’s National Action Plan for a Sustainable Food System by 2030, announced after the UN Food Systems Summit, aims to reduce food loss and waste, improve nutrition for vulnerable groups, and promote climate-aligned circular development.
At the AEM-EU consultation, Nguyen Thanh Giang, Managing Director of Tetra Pak Vietnam, stated: ‘We are at an optimal point in ASEAN-EU trade relations, with free trade agreements yielding significant results.
In Vietnam, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has driven strong trade growth and increased European investment, reinforcing the benefits of deeper regional cooperation.’
She emphasized, ‘As a business, we applaud ASEAN’s commitment to food security and reducing food loss. Tetra Pak and its partners are actively contributing to this goal, delivering safe, sustainable nutrition across the region.’
Learn more about Tetra Pak’s food access and supply solutions here: https://www.tetrapak.com/sustainability/focus-areas/food-access-availability-and-resilience
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