Conceptual frameworks linking agriculture and food security

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Food Security Studies
• Systems Science

Background:

• Numerous conceptual frameworks exist to analyze agriculture-food security linkages.
• These frameworks, while useful, vary significantly in perspective, assumptions, and application.
• A need exists for a standardized approach to assess and improve these frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the diversity of agriculture-food security conceptual frameworks.
• To propose an approach for assessing frameworks using systems modeling conventions.
• To suggest improvements for framework specification and application.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 36 conceptual frameworks.
• Evaluation using criteria-based systems modeling conventions.
• Application of systems modeling to a widely used framework for illustration.

Main Results:

• Many frameworks prioritize illustration over rigorous analysis.
• Causal relationships and dynamic (stability) dimensions are often inadequately addressed.
• Clear intervention points for improving food security are frequently lacking.

Conclusions:

• Systems modeling conventions can enhance framework utility for illustration and analysis.
• Applying these conventions clarifies hypotheses on agriculture-food security links.
• This approach aids in examining potential intervention impacts for food security.