1. A Food System
is a set of dynamic interactions between and within the human and biogeophysical environments which result in the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food.
(definition based on FAO viewpoint)
should involve interactions designed to provide food security.
operate through connections between related determinants operating in one or more major components.
fail to deliver food security when determinants, and/or the links between them, are disrupted by GEC or other stresses.
Includes social AND environmental components

2. Processing & packaging food Distribution & retailing food
Generally food systems comprise a number of human activities involved in…..
Producing food
Processing & packaging food
Distribution & retailing food
Consuming food

3. is the principal objective of food systems
Food Security
is the principal objective of food systems
exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
(definition from the World Food Summit)
emphasizes access for individuals, households, communities to food.
is an integrated concept.
So, GECAFS is interested in how GEC is going to affect food security.
This is a pretty standard definition that I think most people are probably comfortable with. Though someone did comment that this is a person-centered definition, not a systems centered definition and since we are linking food security and GEC through the framework of the food SYSTEM that maybe we would want to include another definition which draws from systems theory (i.e., involving resilience, etc.)
While much of the work in global change focuses on the production side, GECAFS wants to emphasize that when thinking of food security, it is not only the availability of food, but having physical (and sociocultural) access to food is a primary component of the food system.

4. Components of Food Security
& Key Elements
FOOD UTILISATION
FOOD
ACCESS
Nutritional Value
Social Value
Food Safety
Affordability
Allocation
Preference
FOOD
AVAILABILITY
Production
Distribution
Exchange

5. Food System OUTCOMES Contributing to Food System ACTIVITIES
Other societal goals
Income
Employment
Wealth
Social & political capital
Human capital
Infrastructure
Peace
Insurance
Food Security
Environmental Security / Natural Capital
Ecosystems stocks, flows
Ecosystem services
Access to NC assured
FOOD UTILISATION
FOOD
ACCESS
Nutritional Value
Social Value
Food Safety
Affordability
Allocation
Preference
FOOD
AVAILABILITY
Production
Distribution
Exchange
Food System ACTIVITIES
Producing food: resource inputs, farmers, raw materials
Processing & packaging food
Distribution & retailing food: marketing, advertising, trade
Consuming food: acquisition, preparation, consumption

6. Food security determinants
Food Access
Determinant
Bangladesh
Sensitive to GEC?
Affordability
household incomes
Generally low
Floods, droughts
proportion of food purchased
60% self-sufficient in rice
Increases if own production fails
Policy support?
Conducive govt. policy but inadequate institutional support
No but should be
Allocation
Control over own production
sharecroppers get small share no
Degree of market influence
market-driven ??
Government intervention re markets
Inadequate
Market efficiency (storage capacity, integration…)
low or poor
No or gets worse
Preference
Preferred carbohydrate
Rice dominates culturally
Have secondary foods in disasters
preferred protein
Fish but expensive
Price up or down
Consumption patterns
changing towards more commercially processed food
No ??
Next step is to assess sensitivity of these key determinants to GEC.

7. Vulnerability
Vulnerability implies HARM or a negative consequence from which is difficult to recover
Function of exposure to hazards AND social dimensions of coping capacity (internal and external)
Coping capacity includes access to assets, diversity of options, institutional, policy and market structures
Vulnerability is dynamic and differential (related to equity)

8. GECAFS perspective: MULTIPLE stressors produce vulnerabilities that are multi-dimensional
Currency
Fluctuations
Economic Recession
Water Pollution
FOOD UTILISATION
FOOD
ACCESS
Floods, Droughts
Political Unrest
FOOD
AVAILABILITY
HIV-AIDS
War
Climate Change
Change in Trading Agreements

9. Drivers, Activities and Outcomes relevant to Developing Scenarios
for analysing interactions between GEC and Food Systems
Societal Interests
that relate to Food Systems
Food Security
Environmental Security
Other Securities
Socioeconomic
DRIVERS
Changes in:
Demography
Economics
Socio-political context
Cultural context
Science & Technology
Food System OUTCOMES
contributing to:
Interactions
among
DRIVERS
Naturally-
induced drivers
e.g.
Volcanoes
Solar cycles
Other societal interests
Food Security
Environmental Security / Natural Capital:
GEC
DRIVERS
Changes in:
Land cover & soils
Atmospheric composition
Climate variability & means
Water availability & quality Nutrient availability & cycling
Biodiversity
Sea currents & salinity
Sea level
Food System ACTIVITIES

10. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (GEC)
Change in type, frequency & magnitude of environmental threats
Capacity to cope with &/or recover from GEC
FOOD SYSTEM
SECURITY / VULNERABILITY
Exposure
to GEC
GECAFS view of vulnerability – function of adaptive capacity and resilience
SOCIETAL CHANGE
Change in institutions, resource accessibility, economic conditions, etc.

11. Geographical And Socio-economic Characteristics of SIDS Which Increases Vulnerability To Climate Change
Narrow economic base
Traditional exports and tourism
Low productivity and production
Plantation and small rain-fed agriculture
Economic dependence on larger countries for markets and investments
Imports; loss of trade preferences/ competitiveness; changes in trade policies; declining prices
Increased pressure on natural resource base
Increased incidence of pockets of poverty
Fragile coastal systems
Growing non-healthy food choices

12. Adaptation ADAPTIVE CAPACITY ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
Considered as opposite of vulnerability
Emphasis on flexibility and learning
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES
Policy and institutional
To better cope and recover
Proactive or reactive

13. Increasing adaptive capacity can reduce vulnerability to stressors
Adaptive strategy
Water quantity stress
Few drought tolerant crops with market value
Increase groundwater?
Open markets for new crops?
Low human capital as result of HIV/AIDS
Barrier to institutional reform and learning
Educate youth?
Make drug treatment cheaper?
Low political integration
Barrier to regional trade and economic growth
SADC and NEPAD?