food security situation among off-camp Syrian refugee households: almost onethird of the households are food insecure, with a majority of 66% at risk of food
insecurity (WFP, 2016).
8.6 Conclusion
In today’s changing and globalized world, nearly 915 million people suffer from
hunger or undernourishment. Over the past decade, food crises around the world
have highlighted the importance of agricultural development and food security in
all countries. Globalization has led to increasing interdependence between countries, and food security has acquired both national and international threats.
At the World Food Summit (WFS) in 1996 the heads of state and government
stated:
We pledge our political will and our common and national commitment to achieving food
security for all and to an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an
immediate view to reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level
no later than 2015 (FAO, 1996).
As a result, several countries have indeed demonstrated such political will by
taking successful action to reduce the prevalence of hunger and malnutrition.
Nation states have started to produce strategies to ensure food security by utilizing
developing technology.
Turkey, which restricted the ability to export, continues to run at a deficit in
foreign trade and has a dependent industry in terms of raw materials, technology
and energy. The food security score of Turkey is too low, and the risk is still
ongoing. Following recent developments, Turkey has fluctuated in terms of food
self-sufficiency. For instance, while Turkey is self-sufficient in fruit, vegetables and
meat, it is not self-sufficient in the milk and cereals groups within the food availability dimension (Niyaz/İnan, 2016: 1).
Therefore, in order to protect its food security, Turkey must primarily ensure
sustainable agricultural production by raising farmers’ incomes and living standards. Raising public awareness is also crucial for food security. A potential
expansion in agriculture might also help increase employment in agriculture. To
contribute to political stability and have an effective foreign policy in the region,
Turkey should continue to improve the effectiveness of its food aid. Hence Turkey
needs to set sustainable and environmentally friendly food security policies in line
with national interests. However, with a growing population, including refugees,
and taking into account the geographical conditions and also the gradually
increasing dependence on foreign sources, it is both crucial and troublesome to
ensure food security for all country.
Bülent Şık emphasizes the key strategies for ensuring food security, such as
family farming and peasant agriculture, re-adjusting public policies, and the actors
and improving working conditions of the production of food items. Şık criticizes the
8 Addressing the Challenge of Food Security in Turkey
137
insecurity (WFP, 2016).
8.6 Conclusion
In today’s changing and globalized world, nearly 915 million people suffer from
hunger or undernourishment. Over the past decade, food crises around the world
have highlighted the importance of agricultural development and food security in
all countries. Globalization has led to increasing interdependence between countries, and food security has acquired both national and international threats.
At the World Food Summit (WFS) in 1996 the heads of state and government
stated:
We pledge our political will and our common and national commitment to achieving food
security for all and to an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an
immediate view to reducing the number of undernourished people to half their present level
no later than 2015 (FAO, 1996).
As a result, several countries have indeed demonstrated such political will by
taking successful action to reduce the prevalence of hunger and malnutrition.
Nation states have started to produce strategies to ensure food security by utilizing
developing technology.
Turkey, which restricted the ability to export, continues to run at a deficit in
foreign trade and has a dependent industry in terms of raw materials, technology
and energy. The food security score of Turkey is too low, and the risk is still
ongoing. Following recent developments, Turkey has fluctuated in terms of food
self-sufficiency. For instance, while Turkey is self-sufficient in fruit, vegetables and
meat, it is not self-sufficient in the milk and cereals groups within the food availability dimension (Niyaz/İnan, 2016: 1).
Therefore, in order to protect its food security, Turkey must primarily ensure
sustainable agricultural production by raising farmers’ incomes and living standards. Raising public awareness is also crucial for food security. A potential
expansion in agriculture might also help increase employment in agriculture. To
contribute to political stability and have an effective foreign policy in the region,
Turkey should continue to improve the effectiveness of its food aid. Hence Turkey
needs to set sustainable and environmentally friendly food security policies in line
with national interests. However, with a growing population, including refugees,
and taking into account the geographical conditions and also the gradually
increasing dependence on foreign sources, it is both crucial and troublesome to
ensure food security for all country.
Bülent Şık emphasizes the key strategies for ensuring food security, such as
family farming and peasant agriculture, re-adjusting public policies, and the actors
and improving working conditions of the production of food items. Şık criticizes the
8 Addressing the Challenge of Food Security in Turkey
137