Food Security Prepared By :Rana Hassan Supervised By :Dr. Raed Alkowni

Outline : Food security definition Effects of food insecurity Things affecting food security Sustainable Food Systems Important Role of Governments in Achieving Food Security

What is Food Security ? means that all people at all times have physical & economic access to adequate amounts of nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate foods The four dimensions of food security 1.Availability 2.Access 3.Utilization 4.Stability

Food Security will become an Increasingly global Problem The word is facing a potential crisis in terms of food security, The challenge is to produce and supply safe and enough nutrition foods in a sustainable way The FAO reported that almost 870 million people were chronically undernourished in the years 2010-2012. This represents 12.5% of the global population, or 1 in 8 people. Higher rates occur in developing countries, where 852 million people (about 15% of the population) are chronically undernourished The UN noted that about 2 billion people do not consume a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. In India, the second-most populous country in the world, 30 million people have been added to the ranks of the hungry since the mid-1990s and 46% of children are underweight.

Effects of food insecurity Stunting and chronic nutritional deficiencies Many countries experience ongoing food shortages and distribution problems. These result in chronic and often widespread hunger amongst significant numbers of people. Human populations can respond to chronic hunger and malnutrition by decreasing body size, known in medical terms as stunting or stunted growth. Kwashiorkor (is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in developing countries. It is a form of malnutrition caused by not getting enough protein in your diet.)

Things affecting food security today include Food security is one of the biggest challenges facing humankind. There are many factors which have combined to make food security such a large issue. This includes: 1.Increasing population - In 2009, the world population was 6 billion. By 2050, it is predicted to reach 9 billion. Our current output of food is not enough to feed a population of 9 billion. 2.Changing diets - As countries develop and people become richer they tend to eat a more varied diet, including more meat, which requires more energy to produce. This also means there is more competition for the same types of food. 3.Reduced arable land - The drive to produce more biofuels for transport uses edible crops and has reduced arable land.

4.Transport costs - The relatively high price of oil in recent years has increased the price of food storage and distribution. 5.Climate change - Climate change is leading to a warmer world which will affect what crops can be grown where. Climate change can also lead to more frequent extreme weather events (e.g. floods) which can damage crops. 6.Pests and diseases - Pests and diseases are becoming more resistant to pesticides and sprays. The changing climate is also bringing pest and diseases into new areas where they could not previously survive

Sustainable Food Systems A healthy, sustainable food system is one that focuses on Environmental Health, Economic Vitality, and Human Health & Social Equity.

Environmental Health – ensures that food production and procurement do not compromise the land, air, or water now or for future generations. Economic Vitality – ensures that the people who are producing our food are able to earn a decent living wage doing so. This ensures that producers can continue to produce our food. Human Health & Social Equity – ensures that particular importance is placed on community development and the health of the community, making sure that healthy foods are available economically and physically to the community and that people are able to access these foods in a dignified manner

Important Role of Governments in Achieving Food Security Governments play an important role in helping achieve food security Supporting smallholder farmers Investing in agriculture Reducing environmental impact

1.Supporting smallholder farmers Provide training and practical support – Smallholder farmers need training in agricultural best practices and access to inputs, credit, storage and technology to increase their productivity in a sustainable way, which raises their own living standards and producer surpluses to help nourish others. 2. Investing in agriculture Greater investment in agriculture by the public and private sectors is necessary to increase global food production. A boost in funding and attention in the following key areas is needed: transportation, distribution, storage and energy infrastructure; agricultural research and development; agricultural science, extension, education and the promotion of best practices; and governance around legal and business structures to encourage private sector investment

3. Reducing environmental impact As populations continue to grow and incomes rise, the need to produce more food will place increasing demands on the environment and intensify the challenge of protecting high conservation value forest areas and biodiversity. Agriculture will need to make better use of natural resources – especially water and land – through innovation and conservation.

Food security is not just a poverty issue; it is a much larger issue that involves the whole food system and affects every one of us in some way. Issues such as whether households get enough food, how it is distributed within the household and whether that food fulfils the nutrition needs of all members of the household show that food security is clearly linked to health