Food security: the role of agricultural trade
Food security is fundamentally about achieving reliable access to adequate, affordable and nutritious food supplies sufficient to avoid chronic hunger, crisis hunger and stunted development. Once basic caloric needs are met, a second stage of food concerns surfaces around safety and healthfulness. This safety dimension involves securing food supplies free from contamination, adulteration or food-borne diseases and healthy foods that reduce the influence of diet-based diseases and promote well-being. Agricultural trade historically has failed to play a constructive role in addressing these food security, safety and sustainability concerns. Many poor developing countries have taxed or ignored their agricultural systems, and international financial institutions often have abetted this by neglecting agriculture within their lending programs. These policies have led to low productivity and degraded resources in many poor countries.
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