Commentary: Haze chokes plants too – how air quality can be a food security issue

First, government and private entities in ASEAN member states (AMS) need to monitor agricultural exposure by integrating crop maps with observations of fire, ozone, and PM2.5 (which disperses widely). 

Second, research is needed to quantify losses through field experiments and long-term monitoring of major crops.

Third, AMS’ environment and agriculture agencies should integrate air-quality warnings into digital agriculture using satellites, low-cost sensors, farm weather stations and crop models.

Fourth, public and private entities should intensify their efforts in breeding and managing crops for tolerance to ozone and particulate pollution alongside drought, heat, flood and salinity.

Fifth, governments need to enforce policies to reduce agriculture’s own contribution to haze pollution by promoting economically attractive alternatives to open residue burning – such as residue incorporation, composting, biochar, animal feed and productive biomass use.