Climate change and its impact on sustainability and food security for family institutions in Malaysia

Climate change represents a critical global issue that exerts profound impacts on various facets of human life, notably food security. This phenomenon affects individuals, families, communities, nations, and the global populace at large. The increasing unpredictability of weather patterns, marked by significant temperature shifts, irregular precipitation, and the augmented frequency of extreme weather events, poses formidable challenges to agricultural systems at both global and local levels. Specifically, climate change threatens to disrupt food supply chains, diminish agricultural yields, and alter the nutritional content of crops, presenting acute challenges for Malaysia. Within the Malaysian context, the impact of climate change on food security is evidenced through media reports, which highlight the struggles faced by Malaysian families in securing adequate nutrition for their households. Consequently, this study focused on the implications of climate change on the ability of Malaysian households to maintain food security. Employing a qualitative methodology, this research utilises inductive content analysis centred on local online media reports that document the challenges experienced by Malaysians due to the increasing phenomenon of food insecurity. The findings revealed nine significant impacts on Malaysian households, including the compulsion to purchase lower-quality food, adopting a 'eat whatever is available' approach, and engaging in frugal shopping practices. In response to these challenges, this study proposes several strategies and solutions to mitigate food insecurity, examined through the perspective of the Malaysian family institution.