Food Safety and Security

• Author: Thomas Zimmerman,Edward Septimus,Otmar Kloiber,Bonnie Stabile,Arnauld Nicogossian
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.150
• Published date: 01 September 2015
• Date: 01 September 2015

Editorial

Food Safety and Security

Arnauld Nicogossian, Bonnie Stabile, Otmar Kloiber, Thomas Zimmerman,

and Edward Septimus

The twentieth century witnessed an unprecedented expansion of globaliza-

tion, fostering rapid dissemination and exchange of goods and services.

Globalization has improved access to affordable, diverse, and nutritious food

products for many communities in market economy countries. In 1995, the United

Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) def‌ined food security as

“when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to suff‌icient,

safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an

active and healthy life.”

Despite progress and global access to modern knowledge and available

agricultural technology, almost one seventh of the world population continues to

suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Climate change and human practices are

suspected to contribute to this disparity. Since 2008, economic downturns,

coupled with food losses and waste, have continued to plague vulnerable

populations (Battisti & Naylor, 2009; Mowaf‌i, 2011; Lee, Lee, Lim, & Park, 2015).

It is estimated that by 2050 the world population will grow to 9 billion, and

the demand for food will increase accordingly (Committee on Considerations for

the Future of Animal Science Research et al., 2015). Adoption of best practices in

agricultural and food production can improve food security and reduce

disparities. Improvements in food security will bring signif‌icant socioeconomic

benef‌its to all communities, especially for countries of developing economies.

Agricultural and livestock intensif‌ication can feed this increasing world popula-

tion at affordable prices. Yet despite the successes of globalization and increasing

world trade in agriculture, there remain large; persistent; and, in some cases,

worsening spatial differences in the ability of societies to both feed themselves

and protect the long-term productive capacity of their natural resources.

Unfortunately, using growth promoters, such as hormones and nontherapeutic

antimicrobial drugs, to counteract inadequate agricultural practices has led to the

spread of disease to humans, and loss of productivity, especially for small farms.

World Medical & Health Policy, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2015

169

1948-4682 #2015 Policy Studies Organization

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