Dr Jose Ma. Luis Montesclaros leads food security masterclass at NTU Social Science Challenge 2026

Dr Jose Ma. Luis Montesclaros (RSIS) was invited as a speaker for the NTU Social Science Challenge (SSC) 2026 Kickstart Day, where he led a Masterclass Workshop on  food security as a non‑traditional security issue with both global and local implications.

The session opened with a brief overview of food security in this context, followed by a case‑based discussion on Singapore’s “30 by 30” strategy, drawing on the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy study Singapore’s Quest for Food Security – 30 by 30. Participants explored the complexities of policymaking and examined food security as a multifaceted and evolving challenge shaped by availability, access, affordability, and nutritional sufficiency. The session also introduced NTU Food Research Systems, highlighting its role in supporting Singapore’s food and agriculture landscape.

Participants were actively engaged in analysing the challenges Singapore continues to face in strengthening food resilience. Open‑floor discussions encouraged thoughtful reflection on current strategies while inviting participants to propose and debate new approaches, considering feasibility and trade‑offs in addressing food security more effectively.

A total of 139 students participated in the session, representing institutions across Singapore:

Participating Schools:

• Yishun Innova Junior College (YIJC)
• School of the Arts (SOTA)
• Jurong Pioneer Junior College (JPJC)
• River Valley High School (RVHS)
• Nanyang Junior College (NYJC)
• Raffles Institution (RI)
• Victoria Junior College (VJC)
• St Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC)
• NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
• Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP)
• Temasek Polytechnic (TP)
• Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)
• Republic Polytechnic (RP)

The workshop deepened participants’ understanding of Singapore’s food security landscape and served as a platform to inspire critical thinking and innovative solutions toward strengthening food security goals.