Studies concerning world, european and national food security

Abstract

The term food security appeared in the interwar period and over time there have been numerous attempts to define the notion. At global, European and national level, food security policies are regulated by a number of institutions and organizations with a supervisory, guiding and controlling role. The most important institutions dealing with food security regulation worldwide are: WHO, FAO, IFPRI, at European level: European Commission, Council of the European Union and European Parliament, and at national level: MADR, ANPC, ANSVSA and the Ministry of Health. Food insecurity is a prolonged lack of “sufficient safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life” (FAO, 1996) and is generally caused by extreme poverty. In the context of food security, extreme poverty is synonymous with acute food shortages. The factors can be varied: from high prices, to economic recessions, natural disasters, political unrest and violent conflicts. Two thirds of the world's population vulnerable to food insecurity live in African countries, or in countries with a large population such as: India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan. In these countries, food security is correlated with both poverty and the many conflicts, we can add here environmental pollution, limited access to water resources. Regarding Romania, the agri-food stability is influenced by a series of factors starting from the reduction of the available agricultural areas, the precarious endowment of the Romanian farmer. A possible food crisis in our country will be generated, most likely by a mismanagement of an already existing vulnerability.