Securing enough to eat

Different approaches: different food security

This paper explores how different definitions of food security have come to be associated with different ways of realising the objective of food security. It considers four paths to food security: self-sufficiency, trade liberalisation, food sovereignty and multi-functional agriculture.

The paper argues that different measures of food security will result in different strategies for achieving it and lead to distinct assessments of when food security has been achieved.

The paper concludes that a pragmatic approach to achieving food security is essential, particularly to reconcile a number of objectives: economic, social, political and cultural. The trade system needs to accept a place in the wider multilateral system, particularly if trade negotiators are serious about respecting food security and environmental constraints. The challenge to localise decision-making is a reminder that the multilateral system must continually prove its worth to remain relevant and supported. Food security depends on strong but flexible trade rules and governments are still searching for the best framework to make that possible.

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Securing enough to eat