Feed: a food systems podcast Food Systems, Rice and Power in Southeast Asia (with Thin Lei Win)
May 22, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Thin Lei Win, a food and climate journalist, dives into the complexities of Myanmar's food systems. She examines how political decisions and land ownership impact malnutrition in the region dubbed the 'rice bowl of Southeast Asia.' Thin highlights the trade-offs of intensified rice production, connecting it to nutrient-poor diets and health issues. Despite the challenges, she remains hopeful about a new generation of activists and journalists advocating for justice and sustainability in food systems across Southeast Asia.
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Realising Malnutrition Isn’t Just Scarcity
- Thin Lei Win describes a turning point interviewing the WFP country director in Myanmar about persistent malnutrition despite food surplus.
- She realized malnutrition was driven by access, affordability and politically shaped diets centered on white rice.
Power Is The Food Systems Lens
- Thin Lei Win argues power is the central lens for food-systems reporting and reform.
- She says without addressing who makes decisions, hunger and sustainability problems persist.
Rice At The Centre Of Culture And Policy
- Thin Lei Win recalls growing up in Yangon in a rice-centric culture where greetings ask if you've eaten rice.
- She links decades of rice-focused policies to neglect of nutrient-dense foods and poor nutrition outcomes.