Maisto saugumas : vertinimo metodai bei dabartinė padėtis

Abstract

Straipsnyje aptariami ekonominio požiūrio į maisto saugumo problemą analitiniai aspektai. Remiantis sukaupta teorine ir praktine medžiaga, įvertinant aplinkos ekonomikos ir darnaus vystymosi principus, analizuojami maisto saugumo tyrimo būdai ir rodikliai, bei įvertinama maisto saugumo situacija pasaulyje

The article discusses analytical aspects of the economic approach to the problem of food security. Food security measurement and indicators are analysed and world food security situation is assessed with reference to theoretical and empirical literature, and principles of environmental economics and sustainable development. The first part of this article discusses food security measurement and indicators, and how they are estimated at the national level. There are five methods that can be used to assess food insecurity: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization method, household expenditure surveys, dietary intake assessment, anthropometry and experience-based food insecurity scales. Food insecurity factors can be grouped in four clusters: 1) the socio-economic and political environment; 2) food economy; 3) care practices; 4) health and sanitation. The second part of this article analyzes the current food security situation in the world. W ith reference to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization data it can be stated that the increase of hunger in the world is not a result of poor crop harvest, but rather of insufficient investment in agriculture, high local food prices, lower income and higher unemployment do to economic slowdown witch followed on the heals of food price crises. Rising international cereal prices and drop in national crop production have increased food prices in many countries of the world. The biggest increase in food prices were in developing countries. The third part of this article discusses the causes of world food price crisis. Many factors contributed to resent food security situation and food price rise. Long term trends in agricultural production, population growth, economic growth in developing countries, oil prices have slowed food production growth and strengthened demand.[...]