Maisto saugumas: ekonominis požiūris

Abstract

Straipsnyje aptariamas ekonominis požiūris į maisto saugumo problemą. Remiantis sukaupta teorine ir praktine medžiaga, įvertinant aplinkos ekonomikos ir darnaus vystymosi principus, teoriškai nagrinėjama maisto saugumo samprata bei jo poveikis ekonominiam augimui

The article discusses the economic approach to the problem of food security. Food security concept and its impact on economic growth is analysed theoretically with reference to theoretical and empirical literature, and principles of environmental economics and sustainable development. The first part of this article considers the concept of food security. Now food security is defined as “ensuring that all people at all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food that they need”. This concept was introduced, when it was realized that adequate food availability at the national level did not automatically translate into food security at the household level. A. Sen’s theory on food entitlement, witch was developed to household livelihood approach, had a considerable influence in this change in thinking. Poverty and people’s vulnerability were seen as central to understanding food insecurity. By the mid-1990s food security definition had been broadened to incorporate food safety and nutritional balance. Food security concept involves these dimensions of food security: a) availability of food, b) access to food, c) food utilization, d) stability. First of all, it is necessary that there would be enough food available at the national level. Second, households must also have the necessary resources to acquire that food. Moreover, to achieve nutritional security people need adequate care and a healthy living environment. Finally, they should not risk losing access to food as a consequence of an economic or climatic crisis, or cyclical events. The second part of this article analyzes the impact of nutrition on economic growth. The positive effect of economic growth on nutrition has been amply demonstrated in both the theoretical and empirical literature.[...]