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Preventing food crises using a food policy approach
1Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Development Studies, emeritus, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. ptimmer63@gmail.com
The Journal of Nutrition
|November 20, 2009
Summary
A food crisis is a sharp rise in hunger and malnutrition, often triggered by supply or demand shocks and price spikes. Preventing food crises requires economic growth and stable food prices to ensure the poor have access to food.
Area of Science:
- Food security and nutrition science
- Global health and economics
Background:
- Food crises are defined by sharp increases in hunger and malnutrition, distinct from chronic hunger.
- These crises are often precipitated by supply or demand shocks in the food market, leading to price volatility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define and differentiate food crises from chronic hunger.
- To identify the primary drivers and preventative mechanisms of food crises.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of food security definitions.
- Economic principles applied to food supply, demand, and pricing.
Main Results:
- Food crises are characterized by sudden spikes in food prices, reflecting scarcity rather than nutritional value.
- Sustained reduction in chronic hunger and prevention of short-term spikes are achievable through pro-poor economic growth and stable food prices.
Conclusions:
- Effective food policy must address both short-term hunger spikes and long-term chronic hunger reduction.
- Key strategies include fostering labor productivity via economic growth and maintaining stable food prices with ensured access for vulnerable populations.
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