Food security, at the individual, household, national, regional, and global levels (is achieved) when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life.

Today the world has enough food to feed everyone, yet an estimated 854 million people worldwide are still undernourished (FAO, 2006). Poverty – not food availability – is the major driver of food insecurity. Improvements in agricultural productivity are necessary to increase rural household incomes and access to available food but are insufficient to ensure food security. Evidence indicates that poverty reduction and food security do not necessarily move in tandem. The main problem is lack of economic (social and physical) access to food at national and household levels and inadequate nutrition (or hidden hunger). Food security not only requires an adequate supply of food but also entails availability, access, and utilization by all – men and women of all ages, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic levels.