Food security refers to reliable access to nutritious food, while food insecurity means limited or uncertain availability of nutritious foods. Developing countries in Africa and other parts of the third world have high population growth and are at greatest risk of food insecurity due to factors like soil degradation, pests, diseases, conflicts and wars, and increased frequency of droughts and other climate-related disasters. Corruption and political instability in these nations also undermine international food aid efforts.

1. Year 10 Geography

2.  What is ‘Food Security’?
 Explain the indicators of food security?
 Who has food security? What countries?
 What is ‘Food Insecurity’?
 Who is at risk of food insecurity? What countries?
 Explain the relationship between the level of a
countries development and the level of food
security.

3.  African and third world (developing)
countries have the highest growth rate in the
world.
 This puts them at risk of food insecurity
 E.g. Niger’s population Means increased from more
2.5
million to 15 million between 1950 and 2010.
 Africa will produce enough mouths food for only
to
about a quarter population by 2025
feed!

4.  International aid for countries at risk of
food insecurity has always been sent by
other countries
 However, international aid often doesn’t
reach the most vulnerable populations
 This is because of a high level of
corruption and political instability in
many third world countries

5.  Many third world governments encourage
production of so-called ‘cash crops’
 The income made from cash crops is used to
import food
 As a result, countries which depend on cash
crops are at high risk of food crisis because
they do not produce enough food to feed
their population

6.  Many failed harvests in Africa and other
third world countries have been caused
by pests such as desert locusts.
 Cattle diseases affect a regions ability to
produce food
 Other agricultural issues such as soil
infertility and soil erosion also play a part
in food insecurity.

7.  Wars and military conflicts worsen food
insecurity in third world countries
 They may not be directly responsible for
food crises but they worsen scarcity of
food and often present the aid workers
from reaching the most affected people

8.  This disease is a serious public health
concern in third world countries and
worsens food insecurity in two (2) ways.
 1) reduces the available workforce
 2) puts extra burden on poor households

9.  Some experts suggest that drought and
extreme weather in regions affected by food
crises
 For example, west and east Africa have
many problems with recurrent extreme
droughts which puts them at extreme risk of
food insecurity
 Natural disasters which are becoming more
frequent due to climate change also cause
food insecurity

10.  Some experts suggest that drought and
extreme weather in regions affected by food
crises
 For example, west and east Africa have
many problems with recurrent extreme
droughts which puts them at extreme risk of
food insecurity
 Natural disasters which are becoming more
frequent due to climate change also cause
food insecurity