What is Food Security?

We all know how it feels to be hungry, however what does it mean to be food secure?

This is a popular catch phrase across the globe. I am working with community developers who are implementing food security programs in San Francisco. We have all donated something to the Haiti cause by now. Everyone participates in the local food drive. Urban Farming plants gardens. What are you doing?

All facts are referenced from:

Measuring Food Insecurity and Hunger: Phase 1 Report (2005)

Published by the Committee on National Statistics

The Breakdown:

Food Secure

· Food for all household members to lead a healthy, active life

· Food is acquired in socially acceptable ways

· So, farming, gardening, shopping at the market, and trading your neighbor radishes for a cup of sugar are ok!

Food Insecure Without Hunger

· Availability of nutritionally safe and adequate foods and the ability to obtain such foods in uncertain or limited

· Stealing broccoli from the community garden in not socially acceptable, this behavior indicates food insecurity

Food Insecure With Hunger

· Uncertain access to food combined with Hunger

· Hunger is  the painful sensation caused by a chronic lack of food and the recurrent, involuntary loss of food

· Times are tough, the pantry is empty, can’t afford the market, and there is no garden

How is it Tested?

By the Census of course!

The Food Security Supplement includes:

· More than 50 questions about food behavior and experiences

· Set of 10 questions for households with no children

· 18 questions for households with children

So, what’s the point of measuring food insecurity?

· To determine the socio-economic conditions that creates a lack of food

· Behavior patterns that lead to food insecurity

· Resulting emotional and social impact of long term food insecurity and hunger

· Resulting medical conditions

· How people feed their families

· Cross-cultural patterns of food security

· National trends

To figure out how to end hunger!

Again, I reiterate the goal of Urban Farming and the efforts of all gardeners, farmers and free-farm stands working to end hunger. We know how to study the problem, now let’s work towards the solution.

-Karleen

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Check Out This Fantastic Article about Urban Farming’s Founder!

by Katherine Gustafson