Rethinking Food Security for the 21st Century

In this article, we examine why concerns about food security have diminished, at least relative to earlier periods. We argue that it should be in the interest of agricultural economists to return this concept to the G-8 agenda in light of the clear linkages between agricultural development, economic growth, food security, and national security in poor countries. We are particularly concerned that issues of hunger not get lost in a world food economy that is now driven predominately by animal product demand, super markets, and subsidies, and that is increasingly constrained by natural resources and their (mis)management.