2016 Global Food Security Index Released
Food Security Improves in Most Countries, EIU Report Says
Jun 9, 2016 12:00 PM ET
On June 9th, 2016 the Economist Intelligence Unit released its 2016 Global Food Security Index (GFSI). The GFSI, sponsored by DuPont, is an annual benchmarking index that provides a common framework for understanding the root causes of food insecurity by examining the dynamics of food systems around the world. Through this framework, the GFSI has created a unique country-level food-security measurement tool that addresses the issues of affordability, availability and utilization in 113 countries.
The 2016 GFSI found that:
- More than 85% of countries in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) latest Global Food Security Index (GFSI) improved their scores in the past year.
- Overall economic growth, falling food prices and rising incomes drove food security gains in most countries.
- Poor countries lag behind, as lower incomes and lack of basic infrastructure inhibit access to and affordability of nutritious foods.
- Risks from climate change, population growth and potential spikes in food prices pose threats to the most food insecure populations, as poor countries are the least able to deal with these factors.
- Public investment in agricultural research & development globally is inadequate to address future climate change-related risks.
- Political instability exacerbates food insecurity. Countries that are experiencing armed conflict, government instability and civil unrest have experienced the largest deteriorations in food security since 2015. Influxes of refugees from war-torn Syria could strain food safety nets in Europe and other regions.
To explore the GFSI in detail online, visit http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/.
To learn more about DuPont and Food Security, please visit our microsite at http://foodsecurity.dupont.com/.
