Accomplished biotechnology researcher Thomas Brutnell consults for the academic and industrial agricultural biotechnology communities, providing advice to early-stage companies. Earlier in his career, Thomas Brutnell co-founded the Benson Hill Biosystems, a company that aims to empower farmers and food producers to improve food security for the world’s growing population.

1. The Concept of Food
Security
Thomas Brutnell

2. Introduction
 Accomplished biotechnology researcher Thomas Brutnell
consults for the academic and industrial agricultural
biotechnology communities, providing advice to early-stage
companies. Earlier in his career, Thomas Brutnell co-founded
the Benson Hill Biosystems, a company that aims to empower
farmers and food producers to improve food security for the
world’s growing population.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
describes food security as “the time when all people, at all
times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient,
safe, and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and
food preferences for an active and healthy life”. This description
captures the multidimensional character of food security, which
depends on four key elements:

3. Food

1) The physical availability of food, which is directly
related to production, inventory, and trade activity.
2) A household’s access to food, which is related to its
income and expenses, and the prices in the market.
3) External factors, such as weather conditions, the
political climate, and economic conditions.
4) Domestic factors, such as diet and food preparation.
Taken together, these four elements can determine the
extent of an individual’s food security. If these four elements
are not adequately met, food insecurity may be the result.