2. Introduction
• With increase in the population the demand for basic food needs
increases.
• This demand also increases during times of natural calamities
• Granaries: built and food was rationalized by people to over come
this problem over hundred of years.
• Post-World War II: the world saw need for formation of an
organization to mange the food crisis.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): introduced year 1945.
• In 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) of the United
Nation (UN) along with FAO had a world food summit due to the
global food crisis to finally take charge in managing the crisis and
the concept of “food security” was brought forth.
3. FOOD SECURITY - Definition
• First Summit (1945): FAO & WHO focused mainly on increasing
volume of food available and keeping it stable and so defined it
as:
• “Availability at all times of adequate world food supplies of basic
foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and to
offset fluctuations in production and prices.” (United Nation, 1975)
• Years passed by and the FAO & WHO saw that food security had
to be focused also on meeting the dietary needs of people
coming from every background may they be rich or poverty
stricken.
4. FOOD SECURITY - Definition
• 2001: WHO and FAO define the concept properly as:
• “Food Security is a situation that exists when all people, at all times,
have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe,
nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences
for an active and healthy life.” (The State of Food Insecurity in the
World, 2001).
5. FOUR pillars of Food Security
• The WHO stated that there are basically three Pillars of Food
Security: Food Availability, Food Accessibility, and it’s Proper
Utilization.
• World Food Summit (2009): FAO introduced the 4th Pillar –
Stability of Food Availability, Access, and Utilization. (Declaration
of the World Food Summit on Food Security, 2009)
• All four pillars are very important for upholding the concept of
food security.
7. Three Pillars of Food Security – WHO
Food Availability
Physical and Economic
Access to Food
Food Utilization
Domestic Production Purchasing Power Food Safety
Import Capacity Income of Population
Diet Quality and Diversity: Meeting
needs in terms of energy, macro-
and micronutrients.
Food Stocks
Transport and Market
Infrastructure
Hygiene and Manufacturing
Practices applied in: primary
agricultural production, harvesting
and storage; food processing;
transportation, retail, households.
Food Aid
8. Fourth pillar of Food Security – FAO
Stability of Supply and Access
Weather Variability
Price Fluctuations
Political Factors
Economic Factors
9. Purpose of Four Pillars
• Food Security is a way to make sure that everyone is able to
access food services at all time without shortage for nutrition
purposes.
• This can only be done upholding the four pillars: Availability,
Access, Utilization, and Stability.
• Food Security is a complex sustainable development issue,
linked to health through malnutrition, but also to sustainable
economic development, environment, and trade.
• This could also help the world prepare for future
consumption needs that will arise due to every increasing
population.
