Forests for People

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Forests and

food security

Fred Kafeero, Food and Agriculture Organization

he Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines

food security as a state where all people, at all times,

have physical, social and economic access to sufficient,

safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food

preferences for an active and healthy life. The four pillars of

food security are availability, access, utilization and stability.

The nutritional dimension is integral to the concept of food

security.

The challenges

Population growth

The United Nations projects the world population to rise to 9.1

billion by 2050,

with most of the growth taking place in devel-

oping countries. FAO estimates that overall global agricultural

output needs to expand by about 70 per cent to meet the food

needs of the population expected in 2050. Feeding an increased

population means putting new land into cultivation and more

pressure on existing natural resources, including

forests and rangelands.

Economy

Soaring global food prices (especially from 2005-2008 and

from 2010-2011), coupled with a weak global economy

and high energy prices, have had a negative impact on

food security. Poor people can spend between 50 per cent

and 80 per cent of their income on food, and these global

trends often increase their expenses without a correspond-

ing increase in earning capacity. FAO estimates that more

than 945 million people go hungry every day, with no

means to produce sufficient food for themselves or to earn

enough income to purchase it. Women, who are the prin-

cipal food providers for families and communities and play

a central role in production, processing and preparation of

food, are especially hard hit.

Shea Butter packaging by women from Mali

Image: Sophie Grouwels, 2011