Title: Food security: its components and challenges

Authors: Karyn Havas; Mo Salman

Addresses: Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1601 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1601, USA. ' Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1601 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1601, USA

Abstract: Food security relates directly to nutrition and health. Typically food security is thought of as being related to availability and access of foodstuffs. Yet, the threat to food security also lies with urbanisation, income disparity, overpopulation, ecosystem degradation, animal health, and food wholesomeness. Food wholesomeness is also an important aspect of nutrition. Wholesomeness is monitored via food safety and food defence programmes, making them critical components of a food security programme as well. This article discusses these interrelations and concepts for future scientific and humanitarian development programmes.

Keywords: food security; food safety; food defence; hunger; malnutrition; macronutrition; micronutrition; development; humanitarian assistance; climate change; sustainability; urbanisation; overpopulation; nutrition; health; income disparity; ecosystem degradation; food wholesomeness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFSNPH.2011.042571

International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health, 2011 Vol.4 No.1, pp.4 - 11

Published online: 27 Nov 2014 *