Office of Overseas Programming & Training Support (OPATS) Concepts & Dimensions of Food Security Global Agriculture Training Package

Defining Food Security Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. (1996 World Food Summit)

Key Facts  Estimated 925 million hungry people in the world  Around 1.4 billion people earn less than $1.25 a day  Expected World population = 9.1 billion by 2050  Food production needs to double by 2050 in developing countries

More Key Facts  Approximately 40% world’s arable land is degraded by climate change and worsening  Half a billion small farms in the world support 2 billion people  Agriculture generated GDP growth is 4 times more effective in reducing poverty than other sector’s growth  Poor people spend 50%-80% of income on food

Learning Objectives  Identify at least two indicators of food insecurity in the community.  Identify as least three activities that have contributed to increasing food security.

Food Security  Broad and multi-dimensional concept determining people’s wellbeing  Food Security projects tend to focus on 1 aspect, though all areas contribute to food security: – Planning – Nutrition – Agricultural productivity – Trade – Markets, etc.  Complex sustainable development issue linked to health through malnutrition, sustainable economic development, environment, and trade

 There is enough food in the world to adequately feed everyone; the problem is distribution.  Future food needs can—or cannot—be met by current levels of production.  National food security is paramount—or no longer necessary—because of global trade.  Globalization may—or may not—lead to the persistence of food insecurity and poverty in rural communities. Food Security Debates

Food security is clearly linked to health: 1.whether households get enough food 2.how food is distributed within the household 3.whether food fulfills nutritional needs of all household members Food Security & Health

4 Food Security Components Availability Affordability & financial Access Resilience & Stability Utilization Nutritional Quality and Family use of Food Food Security

A Food Secure Family…  does not live in hunger or fear of hunger.  requires a reliable, consistent source of quality food and sufficient resources to purchase it.  must have knowledge and basic sanitary conditions for food preparation that supports good nutrition.  has the ability to access and utilize food in a stable and sustained manner. (adapted from USG Feed the Future Initiative, 2012 Score Card)

Supply of food—this is determined by the production, stock, and trade of food. Sources of supply: Production Imports Food aid (donations) What influences supply? Public expenditure on agricultural R&D Agricultural infrastructure Agricultural production volatility Political stability Just because food is available does not mean that the food insecure can access it. The poor often lack financial means to purchase food in addition to what has been grown. Market development and market access for producers and consumers Presence of social safety nets in transitory insecurity Access to farmer financing Government commitment to market- based farming Income generation/employment availability Having “food” is not enough to create food security. Preparing, cooking, storing, and choosing a diversity of staple and complementary foods completes the security. Diet diversification Using available foods properly (basic food group). Understanding needs vary across families according to age and sex Micronutrient availability In order to maintain food security household must be able to reduce risk and anticipating ups and downs in supply through planning and saving. Bad weather conditions, political instability, loss of employment, increased or increasing food prices can all increase vulnerability. Government level stock management Targeting programming to the most vulnerable groups Developing resilience Community planning Availability Affordability and financial Access Resilience and Stability Utilization Nutritional Quality and Family use of Food Food Security 4 Dimensions of Food Security

Availability  Food availability addresses “supply side” of food security  Determined by 1.Food Production Levels 2.Stock Levels 3.Net Trade

Access  Food access depends on household’s ability to : – obtain food from their own production, stocks, purchases, gathering – obtain food from food transfers from relatives, members of the community, the government, or donors – individual household members’ access to resources  Household ability to meet food needs (over a year) varies due to: – inadequate crop production by the household due to poor soils or lack of labor – loss or decrease in income sources such as employment, social obligations – natural disaster.

Utilization Individual nutritional status is determined by sufficient energy and nutrient intake, which results from: good care and feeding practices food preparation diversity of diet intra-household distribution of food The way the body uses various nutrients in food GOOD NUTRITION

Stability  Food security varies across geography and varies for each person depending on circumstances.  “At all times” = the stability dimension of food security. – Emphasizes reducing the risk of adverse effects on food availability, access or utilization.  “All people, at all times” is integral to the definition of food security and is key to achieving national food security objectives Access, Availability, and Utilization should be stable over time and not affected negatively by natural, social, economic, or political factors.

Inadequate food consumption varies from a short-term experience to a lifelong condition. Two types of food insecurity Chronic food insecurityTransitory food insecurity Long-term or Persistent Food Insecurity—Duration Short-term & Temporary

Chronic food insecurity Food Insecurity - Types & Overlap Seasonal food security is between chronic and transitory food insecurity. is similar to chronic food insecurity—predictable and follows known sequence of events. is recurrent, transitory food insecurity because of its limited duration. Extended periods of poverty, asset scarcity, and inadequate access to productive or financial resources. Transitory food insecurity Relatively unpredictable and can emerge suddenly.

 Even if people have money (access), if there’s no food available in the market (availability), people are at risk of food insecurity. Food Security—4 Dimensions To achieve food security objectives, all 4 dimensions must be addressed  Food security is also about quality, the body must be healthy to enable nutrients absorption (utilization).  These 3 dimensions should be stable over time and not be affected negatively by natural, social, economic, or political factors.

Gender & Food Security: Women’s Role in Food Security  Women are primarily responsible for their families’ health, education, and nutrition.  Women bear the brunt of domestic and agricultural tasks: Processing food crops, providing water and firewood, picking fruit Preparing and cooking food Caring for children, the elderly, and the sick In Africa, the HIV/AIDS pandemic burdens caretakers even more

Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)  Developing countries’ agriculture sectors produce food and generate income that support food security for increasing populations.  At the same time, climate change poses challenges and threats to global food systems.  Traditionally, agriculture production was focused in “high potential” zones for increased productivity rather than resilience.  Climate-smart agriculture holistically supports and enhances national food security goals and development objectives.

3 Pillars of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)  Intensifying systems that sustainably increase incomes and productivity  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation)  Increase resilience of ecosystems and rural livelihoods guarding against the impacts of climate change (adaptation)

Twin Challenges  Groups (rural, poor, marginalized) that mainly depend on agriculture, forestry, or fishery sectors, are most vulnerable and affected by climate change.  Climate change affects the food security of vulnerable groups as well as different elements of food systems. Climate Change Agriculture Food Security New Risks & Challenges Worsens Existing Vulnerability (globally & locally)

Hunger, Malnutrition, and Poverty The relationship between food insecurity & poverty is complex and can be a vicious cycle Food Insecurity Poverty