Food security

Food security means having enough food to feed a population. It depends on the balance between the amount of food required and the amount that can be produced and made available. A country can therefore face poor food security because demand has risen, because farms produce less, or because food and water cannot reach the people who need them.

Food security means that people can reliably obtain enough safe, nutritious food. It depends on more than the total amount of food grown: food must also be available where it is needed and affordable to the people who need it. A shortage can arise when demand grows, production falls or the cost of obtaining food rises.

Food security is not simply the existence of food somewhere in the world. People need reliable access to enough food that is safe, nutritious and suitable for a healthy diet. Its level therefore depends on how much food is produced, whether production remains dependable over time and whether people can afford or obtain that food.

Disease can reduce crop yields and therefore affect food security. The loss of widespread trees or wild plants can also change habitats and reduce biodiversity.