anglumea.com - Do you know that there are several factors that play a crucial role in ensuring the survival of a nation? These factors include industrial raw materials, new and renewable energy, and finally, food security.
Why is food security considered essential for a nation? Quite simply, in everyday life, you certainly cannot go even a single day without consuming food.
This is because food is a primary human need that supports all activities and sustains life itself. For this reason, food security is critically important for any nation.
Before discussing further, you need to understand the meaning of food security, the factors that influence it, and the challenges involved in achieving it. Read on for a more detailed explanation in the following sections.
Definitions of Food Security According to Experts
Food is one of the primary needs of human beings. By consuming food, the body receives essential nutrients that generate energy for daily activities.
Without sufficient energy, you would feel weak and lack the motivation to carry out daily tasks. Broadly speaking, this fundamental human need for food is what makes food security a vital concern for any nation.
Food security encompasses many aspects and carries a broad definition. As a result, many experts have expressed their views on what food security means and what it aims to achieve.
In general terms, food security can be defined as the ability to ensure an adequate food supply and to enable every individual to obtain food.
The concept of food security began to develop in 1943 during the Conference of Food and Agriculture, which introduced the idea of a secure, adequate, and suitable supply of food for everyone.
The concept of food security is based on optimizing resource use by relying on the diversity of domestic resources owned by a nation or state.
Food availability can then be realized through food sovereignty and food diversity. Meeting food needs is also considered a right of an independent nation that has the authority to determine its own food policies.
After understanding the general definition of food security, the following are definitions provided by several experts.
1. United Nations Committee on World Food Security
According to the United Nations committee on world food security, food security is a condition in which every individual has physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their preferences and needs.
2. Food and Agriculture Organization (1997)
The FAO defines food security as a condition in which an individual or household has physical or economic access to food for all members of the household.
In addition, access to food does not carry the risk of losing household members or the food itself.
In the context of food security, the desired condition is one in which every individual or family has the physical and economic ability to obtain sufficient food for all household members and does not face the risk of shortages, whether in terms of physical access or financial capacity.
3. FIVIMS (2005)
Food security is defined as a condition in which every individual, physically, socially, and economically, has adequate access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets consumption needs and aligns with food preferences. The fulfillment of these needs aims to support an active and healthy life for all people on a sustainable basis.
4. Oxfam (2001)
Food security is defined as a condition in which every individual has access to and control over sufficient quantities of good quality food to achieve an active and healthy life.
This concept emphasizes two key aspects. The first is food availability, which includes both the quality and quantity of food available.
The second is access, which refers to an individual’s right to obtain food through various means such as purchasing, exchange, or entitlement. When both aspects are fulfilled, individuals are expected to achieve a healthy and productive life.
Based on these expert perspectives, food security can be concluded as a condition in which individuals or communities within a nation are able to obtain food through economic, social, and physical means in a safe manner. The goal is to ensure that all members of society can sustain life properly and maintain good health.
Factors That Influence Food Security
Food security is influenced by several factors. These factors can either hinder or support the supply of food.
So, what are the factors that influence food security? Based on various sources, the following explanations provide an overview.
1. Climate or Weather
Climate and weather changes, including global warming over recent years, have a significant impact on food security in a nation. The impact is generally negative and often takes the form of reduced agricultural production.
High temperatures and unpredictable rainfall make weather conditions unreliable and create difficulties for farmers working their land. This situation can lead to crop failure, which results in losses for farmers and society at large. Crop failure can also cause food shortages and drive up the prices of staple goods.
2. Technology
In addition to factors that cause losses, there are also factors that benefit food security, such as technological advancement. Technology plays an important role in many aspects of life. With technological progress, agricultural cultivation and food processing become more practical, healthier, and faster compared to manual methods.
Technology can be applied throughout the agricultural cycle, from planting and harvesting to the processing of food commodities.
Technology is also used to store food products properly. The purpose of technological food storage is to ensure that crops and food commodities remain safe during distribution and use by the public. Technological development is also useful for developing superior crop varieties to improve food commodity production.
3. Agricultural Land
An important factor in ensuring adequate food commodity productivity is the availability of sufficient agricultural land. In this context, the larger the area of agricultural land, the greater the potential to meet food needs. Conversely, when agricultural land area declines, food stability can be disrupted.
4. Facilities and Infrastructure
Facilities and infrastructure play a significant role in influencing food security. When adequate public facilities and infrastructure are lacking, the distribution of food commodities becomes obstructed. For example, in hard to reach areas, food distribution can be disrupted and, if left unaddressed, may lead to food crises. Therefore, transportation access is a crucial factor in ensuring that food distribution reaches all regions evenly.
In addition to distribution, facilities also play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity. Examples include the provision of fertilizers, superior seeds, and other inputs that help improve crop yields. Food security infrastructure also includes access to food or an individual’s ability to purchase food and the allocation of food resources.
The United Nations has stated that hunger is often not caused solely by poverty. According to the UN, the inability to access food is one of the main causes of hunger.
5. Economic, Social, Political, and Security Conditions of a Country
Food security can be achieved when four key aspects of a country are functioning well, namely economic conditions, political stability, social cohesion, and security. If these four aspects do not operate effectively, the negative impact can spread across various sectors that harm society, including food security.
Food security does not only concern food supply and availability, but also how people are able to access food safely.
This means that the methods used to obtain food and the food itself must meet health and safety standards. This aspect is also referred to as food safety.
Challenges in Achieving Food Security
Achieving stable food security for a nation is not an easy task, as many factors must be considered to ensure that all members of society have secure and easy access to food.
In addition to considering factors that influence food security, it is also necessary to examine the challenges involved in achieving it. The following are some of the main challenges.
1. Land Degradation
The first challenge in achieving food security is land degradation. In efforts to meet food security needs, agricultural activities are often carried out continuously. When farming practices are overly intensive, they can negatively affect soil fertility, which in turn reduces crop yields.
It is estimated that around 40 percent of agricultural land worldwide is experiencing serious degradation, with declining harvest yields. In Africa, if land degradation trends continue, it is estimated that by 2025 the continent will only be able to feed one quarter of its population.
2. Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases have the ability to affect agricultural and livestock production. They also have a direct impact on food availability.
For example, there is a plant disease known as Ug99, a type of stem rust that attacks crops, particularly wheat. This disease can cause agricultural yield losses of up to 100 percent. It has spread across several countries in Africa and the Middle East. Disruptions to food production in these regions are expected to affect global food security.
One solution to address this issue is the development of improved wheat varieties by utilizing the genetic diversity found in wild relatives of wheat. This approach aims to increase resistance to stem rust or Ug99. Through such efforts, food security can still be maintained.
3. Global Water Crisis
A number of countries around the world have imported wheat as a result of water deficits. This situation is also likely to affect major countries such as China and India. In several regions, groundwater levels continue to decline due to excessive extraction through pumping.
China and India are examples of countries experiencing declining groundwater levels, with impacts also felt by neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. The decline in groundwater levels leads to water scarcity and reduces food crop production. As a result, food prices increase amid continued population growth.
4. Climate Change
Extreme weather phenomena such as droughts and floods are expected to increase as a result of ongoing climate change. The agricultural sector will be particularly affected. It is estimated that by 2040, much of the Nile River region will turn into desert areas unsuitable for agriculture due to limited water availability.
The impacts of extreme weather are widespread, affecting agricultural productivity, lifestyles, economic income, infrastructure, and markets. Future food security will largely depend on the ability of communities to adapt to climate change through appropriate agricultural practices.
Conclusion
Food security is not merely about producing enough food, but about ensuring that every individual can access safe, nutritious, and sufficient food in a sustainable way. Expert definitions highlight that food security is deeply connected to economic capacity, social conditions, physical access, and long term stability. Factors such as climate, technology, land availability, infrastructure, and national conditions shape a country’s ability to secure its food supply, while challenges like land degradation, pests, water scarcity, and climate change continue to test that ability. Understanding these interconnected elements reinforces the importance of collective responsibility and adaptive strategies to ensure that food security remains a strong foundation for human health and national resilience.
