therefore includes issues of food production and processing; trade
imports and exports; availability of food stocks and food aid. For
example, in a region like Latin America and the Caribbean, countries
possess large capacity for the production, export and import of food,
so availability of food is not the main problem for food security in
the region (FAO, 2008).
The second dimension covers physical and economic access
to food for an active, healthy life. This includes marketing and
transport infrastructure, food distribution systems and markets;
purchasing power or having the money to buy the right food; social
programmes to ensure access to nutritious food; and school meals
which are nutritious and appealing to children. If food is available
but people do not have the money to access it, they are food
insecure.
The third dimension covers the safe and healthy utilisation of
the food. This includes good health status, since healthy individuals
can make proper use of food; having nutritious food choices for all
age groups; food safety and quality; and access to clean water and
sanitation.
The fourth dimension covers the fact that to be food secure, a
population, household or individual should have access to adequate
food at all times and should not risk losing access to food as a consequence
of sudden shocks (e.g. an economic or climatic crisis) or
cyclical events (FAO, 2006). This dimension is increasing in importance
with the economic and climate change related challenges
facing the world, especially developing countries.