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Ewing-Chow, Michael; Slade, Melanie Vilarasau --- "Conclusion: Moving to collective food security" [2016] ELECD 289; in Ewing-Chow, Michael; Vilarasau Slade, Melanie (eds), "International Trade and Food Security" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016) 203

Book Title: International Trade and Food Security

Editor(s): Ewing-Chow, Michael; Vilarasau Slade, Melanie

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781785361883

Section: Chapter 12

Section Title: Conclusion: Moving to collective food security

Author(s): Ewing-Chow, Michael; Slade, Melanie Vilarasau

Number of pages: 8

Abstract/Description:

There were numerous policy responses to the 2008 food crisis, all of which ostensibly placed the achievement of food security front and center in the policy considerations of many governments. Many countries turned to self-sufficiency as an answer. There are clear limitations to this policy option, particularly in the case of import-dependent countries in which the socio-political and/or geographical conditions for agricultural production are less than ideal. Yet despite its high costs, food self-sufficiency represents a food security strategy followed by a wide range of countries. This is understandable given that it is the responsibility of national governments to ensure food security for their population. Self-sufficiency is in essence a very costly food insecurity insurance scheme, limited to the national level and one that not all States are able to afford. Further, whilst it can ensure sufficient production (i.e., physical availability) in some States, it is not a guarantee against individual food insecurity (i.e., economic and physical access) within those States.