Food Security

Vannarith Chheang, EWC-APLP 2008-2009

The word “food security” was first became commonly used in the world food conference held in Rome in 1974. Food security means maintaining accessible food inventory. But it does not reflect the food solution of people troubled by chronic food shortage. FAO decided in 1980s modify the concept of food security: availability, accessibility, and stability in order to have food situation. Latter on the concept of food security was included in the concept of human security in the 1994 Human Development Report by the UNDP. However, not much attention has been given to food security until recently.

Food security has come to the fore in 2007 together with the dramatic increase in fuel prices and inflation in many parts of the world. In Cambodia alone, inflation has increased 20 percent in the last few years and in Vietnam inflation has become the main concern (about 30 percent). Food prices have increased two times in Cambodia and in many parts of the world. Demonstrations regarding food price height took place in many countries from Asia to Africa.

In order to deal with food insecurity we need to determine what are the myths and realities and what are the most effective solutions.

Myths: 1. Food security means national food supply, import and export of food. 2. Food is everywhere as long as we have money to buy it. 3. Investment in agriculture is long-term investment so let focus our investment in other short term which has high and quick returns. 4. Developing countries will produce food for developed world so the second should not be concerned about that. 5. Green revolution would be the answer.

Realities:

1. When we talk about food security, so far we think of national food supply, import and export of food. But it just refers to global and national food security only. How about family or individual food production? To ensure the food security for people currently facing chronic food shortage and people with a high probability of suffering famine in specific regions where food shortages are common, a worldwide or national approach will be inadequate. Talking about food security means talking about every individual who could get access to food.
2. Food could be produced and found everywhere? Green revolution made people feel that way. Chemical fertilizers, irrigation, high yield seeds, expansion of cropland, and agricultural mechanical equipment produce large scale of food. It is true but cropland can no longer be expanded! We could not expand our land! Production rate of agricultural land declines due to the use of fertilizers and other chemical products. Environmental degradation and desertification have huge adverse impacts on crop production. Unstable rain fall and seasonal change. Over-harvesting of marine resources (fish…). If production system and consumer lifestyle continue today, it is more than likely that the absolute volume of food supply will not be able to satisfy the demand.
3. Not everyone has money to buy food especially in such high inflation period. Transportation is another constraint for the poor to reach food they need. Children especially girls, handicapped people, and minority groups are the most vulnerable to food shortage and crisis. We need to take measures to assist these groups of people.
4. Investment in agriculture should be emphasized much more by the government and financial institutions. Unless we really invest in this sector we could not provide enough food for the fast growing population. International stable food supply chains mechanism should be established.
5. Yes developing countries provide food to the developed world. But if the current Doha round of the World Trade Organization does not move, then demand and supply of food in the international market would not be stable.