Food Security

There are few more sensitive and important indicators of human welfare than those relating to hunger and food security. Life cannot continue without food. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) characterizes food security as having four dimensions:

• Availability: The sufficiency of supply through production and/or trade
• Access: The ability to purchase food in markets or produce food for oneself
• Utilization: Being able to meet all physiological needs for a healthy and productive life through the diet, without (or in spite of) losses due to lack of clean water, sanitation, and health care
• Stability: The ability to access food at all times, in all seasons

The concept of food security encompasses not only individuals’ intake of calories and other nutrients but also the food and agricultural production, processing, and market systems ...