The Global Partnership for Food Security

The problem of food security is still before us

Soaring agricultural prices in 2007-2008, marked by the hunger riots, then the economic crisis, took a heavy toll on the world food situation. With 925 million hungry people in the world in 2010, we are moving further away from the first of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The target of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015 appears out of reach.

Demographic changes (9 billion inhabitants in 2050) and climate change make it very uncertain whether the world will be able to feed its people. Agricultural prices remain extremely unstable and there has never been so much competition for access to agricultural land resources.

Food security is a complex issue going beyond agricultural production

“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to suffi cient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life." Thus defined by the World Food Summit held from 13 to 17 November 1996, food security covers four dimensions:
 Availability of food products, thanks to sufficient agricultural production;
 Accessibility to food, with adequate livelihoods;
 Food quality, nutritious and safe;
 Stability of supply, to prevent food crises.

Food insecurity is not only an agricultural production problem, but also concerns food access and poverty alleviation. Food security is a global issue which cannot be ensured without the close cooperation of all stakeholders.

The Global Partnership for Food Security - (PDF, 1.5 Mo)