Research@RSIS Newsletter

The project examines the security challenges arising from research in the life sciences, dual-use research, and the biotech industry in Southeast Asia. Other research areas include the preventive measures of Biosafety Labs (BSL), such as preventing biosecurity incidents caused by insider threats, extremist terror groups, cyber criminals, or transnational criminal networks. In addition, the project analyses the national and regional efforts to enhancing biosecurity and response and preparedness capacities in Southeast Asia and the wider region in case of the use or threat of use of biological weapons, including the roles of regional bodies and networks supporting ASEAN Member States. The research also explores pathways toward integrating biosecurity and response and preparedness capacity development into regional frameworks, standards and approaches.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has created several mechanisms to facilitate climate change mitigation efforts in developing countries. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) were established to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the energy and forestry sectors respectively. This research assesses the interactions among actors involved in these initiatives in countries across Southeast Asia. It aims to examine the gaps and challenges in implementing climate mitigation solutions proposed by multilateral institutions such as the UNFCCC. It identifies best practices in optimising such solutions at the national level.

Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of its total food consumption, and grows some quantities of eggs, fish and vegetables. There are plans of boosting these numbers, although any initiative will need to value-add to the country’s economy and productivity. In order to be more food secure amid the limitation of space, the government has supported technologies such as vertical farming, and provided funding to help farmers upgrade practices. This study will look into the types of technologies that can be leveraged to boost farming’s productivity, and allow for greater production within the limits of space, water and labour. It will further study the enabling environment for technology, focusing on the technology-policy interface.

This project aims to examine the current threats to food safety in ASEAN and explore ways to foster and enhance collaboration on food security. This project will produce a policy-relevant paper on how ASEAN as an institution, and its member states can address the types of food-borne diseases (FBD) that have plagued the region over the years. This is to be achieved by mapping out the ASEAN institutions involved in FBD management, and identifying gaps when compared to successful FBD management systems in countries/institutions such as Denmark and the European Union. This study will be limited to the top three to four diseases related to biotic factors (such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses), identified based on World Health Organization (WHO) Data. Literature review and stakeholder interviews will be done to provide insights on the ground. This research is being done in collaboration with the newly established NTU Food Technology Centre (NAFTEC).

The project explores pathways toward building a robust framework for nuclear energy governance in the Asia Pacific, including ASEAN. It has the following objectives: i) To look into the nuclear energy plans of East Asian/ASEAN countries, including the construction of nuclear power plants in the region, ii) To examine the regulatory frameworks on nuclear energy in ASEAN and the Asia Pacific and iii) To explore the feasibility of a “wider regional framework/blueprint for nuclear energy cooperation in the Asia Pacific”, building on some of the existing regional frameworks such as the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty, Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in Asia, etc.