Child nutrition in Asia faces challenges from rising food costs

Rising fuel and fertilizer costs across Asia are driving families to replace nutrient-rich foods with cheaper staples, leading to diets that meet caloric needs but lack essential nutrients.

Approximately one in four children under five in Asia faces stunting, while millions experience "hidden hunger," which can hinder cognitive and physical development. This lack of nutrition is attributed to fragmented responsibility across health, education, and agriculture sectors, as well as a mismatch between long-term nutritional gains and short-term funding cycles.

Calls have been made for Asian family offices, foundations, and corporate philanthropy to coordinate capital as a long-term investment in economic growth. Programs such as the Zuellig Family Foundation’s Pook Malusog in the Philippines and community-based initiatives in Indonesia are highlighted as models for strengthening nutrition governance and local delivery.