increase. Projections show that the world needs to produce at least 50% more food
to feed 9.1 billion people by 2050 (FAO, 2009). Statistics like these raise many
questions. Can humanity feed all these people? If so, how can this be achieved
through environmentally sustainable methods?
Food security is a multi-layered concept and is usually applied at three levels of
aggregation: national, regional, and household/individual. There are many definitions of food security, but the most common definition is the availability of food and
people’s ability to access it (Mcdonald, 2010: 15). The term “food security” was
first utilized in a policy context at the 1974 World Food Congress. The Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) subsequently came up with the following definition, whereby food security
exists 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.
One of the main components affecting food security is agriculture. Agriculture is an
extremely important sector that influences the environment through its direct impact
on land cover and the ecosystem. The agricultural sector is a special component of
food security planning in developing countries such as Turkey. This chapter introduces the concept using a conceptual framework with the basic determinants, pillars
and indicators of food security. Food security can be analysed through many different
lenses; but for the purpose of this chapter the focus on food security will be through the
lens of agriculture. The chapter will start with the definition of basic terms and
concepts and will continue with an overview of food production, food supply and
nutritional status trends in Turkey. However, food imports are only one dimension of
food security and relate to the macro level of national food security from a supply side
perspective. Other variables that help determine a region’s or country’s food security
status include wealth levels, income distribution, and fiscal position.
Agriculture is one of the most important sectors in Turkey and makes a substantial contribution to its economy. Among the most pressing problems facing
Turkey are the effects of rapid population growth, environmental degradation and
the refugee crises. This chapter sheds light on these challenges and discusses the
prospects for developing more sustainable and resilient food systems for the future.
The growing refugee crisis in Turkey has also greatly influenced its food security.
Understanding these problems and how they affect a country’s productive capacity
and its ability to feed future generations is the first step towards overcoming them.
8.2 The Development of the Food Security Concept
The concept of food security, which is a highly complex issue, has been defined in
at least 200 ways (Smith et al., 1992: 24). In fact, the first of these definitions
emerged after World War Two when malnutrition was a serious problem. For
example, during the war, in May 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt convened a
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S. İ. Gürsoy
to feed 9.1 billion people by 2050 (FAO, 2009). Statistics like these raise many
questions. Can humanity feed all these people? If so, how can this be achieved
through environmentally sustainable methods?
Food security is a multi-layered concept and is usually applied at three levels of
aggregation: national, regional, and household/individual. There are many definitions of food security, but the most common definition is the availability of food and
people’s ability to access it (Mcdonald, 2010: 15). The term “food security” was
first utilized in a policy context at the 1974 World Food Congress. The Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) subsequently came up with the following definition, whereby food security
exists 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.
One of the main components affecting food security is agriculture. Agriculture is an
extremely important sector that influences the environment through its direct impact
on land cover and the ecosystem. The agricultural sector is a special component of
food security planning in developing countries such as Turkey. This chapter introduces the concept using a conceptual framework with the basic determinants, pillars
and indicators of food security. Food security can be analysed through many different
lenses; but for the purpose of this chapter the focus on food security will be through the
lens of agriculture. The chapter will start with the definition of basic terms and
concepts and will continue with an overview of food production, food supply and
nutritional status trends in Turkey. However, food imports are only one dimension of
food security and relate to the macro level of national food security from a supply side
perspective. Other variables that help determine a region’s or country’s food security
status include wealth levels, income distribution, and fiscal position.
Agriculture is one of the most important sectors in Turkey and makes a substantial contribution to its economy. Among the most pressing problems facing
Turkey are the effects of rapid population growth, environmental degradation and
the refugee crises. This chapter sheds light on these challenges and discusses the
prospects for developing more sustainable and resilient food systems for the future.
The growing refugee crisis in Turkey has also greatly influenced its food security.
Understanding these problems and how they affect a country’s productive capacity
and its ability to feed future generations is the first step towards overcoming them.
8.2 The Development of the Food Security Concept
The concept of food security, which is a highly complex issue, has been defined in
at least 200 ways (Smith et al., 1992: 24). In fact, the first of these definitions
emerged after World War Two when malnutrition was a serious problem. For
example, during the war, in May 1943 President Franklin D. Roosevelt convened a
128
S. İ. Gürsoy