What is Food Security?
Food security refers to one’s ability to access safe, nutritious, and sufficient food at all times. It means having access to plenty of food sources for a well-balanced diet to achieve a healthy life. It covers all access points, from physical to social and economic access to food supplies. To achieve food security, one must produce enough food supplies, maintain a steady flow of food, and ensure those who are in need can access these supplies.
Importance
Food security is a pressing global problem that affects billions around the globe. The most recent data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows that nearly one in three people dont have access to sufficient food supplies. Because of this, food security became a vital component of Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Moreover, food is a fundamental human right. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) includes food as one of the basic rights for a standard of living adequate for health and well-being.
Food security also results in better health outcomes. Good food strengthens the body, replenishes energy, and provides enough nutrientscontributing substantially to overall health and well-being.
Create your own Food Safety Checklist
Measures for Global Food Security
Various organizations have devised methods for gauging food security on a global scale, including these two global standards for measuring food security and food insecurity:
Global Food Security Index
Global Food Security Index
The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) evaluates and ranks countries based on their food security status. This model developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) measures the drivers of food security using 58 indicators across 113 countries.
The GFSI model consists of four core pillars: Affordability, Availability, Quality and Safety, and Natural Resources and Resilience. The latter was a recent addition to the index to acknowledge the devastating impacts of climate change on food security in recent years.
Food Insecurity Experience Scale
FAO developed the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) as an experience-based food insecurity metric. This scale investigates the constraints in obtaining food using peoples direct responses. This way, it can find which populations are severely food insecure and where they come from.
The FIES model below measures food insecurity at three levels:
Food Insecurity Experience Scale
- Food Security to Mild Food Insecurity: little to no concerns about obtaining ones food
- Moderate Food Insecurity: struggles to acquire food, making one skip meals or eat readily available but unhealthy food
- Severe Food Insecurity: has run out of food for a day or more, resulting in extreme hunger
FAQs About Food Security
FAO defines food insecurity as the “lack of regular access to safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development.” It arises mainly because of two reasons:
- people lack the resources to produce or purchase enough food; or
- food is unavailable at their location.
Combining several strategies into a holistic program ensures that each pillar of food security is addressed adequately. Here are the major strategies to consider for strengthening food security efforts:
- Data Collection System: Food data collection insights inform decision-makers of the current state of the food systems to help them develop effective and evidence-based food security and nutrition programs.
- Policies and Legislation: For example, the Global Food Security Act exhibits the United States’ commitment to a food-secure future for all. Another example is the National Food Security Act of 2013, showing the Indian government’s efforts to guarantee that everyone can purchase high-quality food at reasonable prices.
- Risk Management: Integrating risk management plans, strategies, and tools is key to adapting to current and future risks.
Globalization may increase reliance on global food trade, which can lead to vulnerability to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. It can also promote the spread of agricultural technologies and practices, positively affecting food production in some regions but potentially displacing traditional farming methods in others.
Food waste exacerbates food insecurity by squandering resources such as water, land, and energy used in food production. It contributes to increased pressure on food supply chains and higher prices for consumers.
Moreover, food waste perpetuates inequalities by limiting access to nutritious food for those in need while also harming the environment through unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.
Leizel Estrellas
