The World's Best Countries For Food Security

Food security refers to a situation where people have social, economic, and physical access to nutritious, sufficient, and safe food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active life at all times. Food security, which includes access to clean water, remains one of the most challenging things to achieve in the modern world. As of 2018, about 815 million people across the globe did not have sufficient food for a healthy life. A majority of the hungry population is in the developing countries of Africa, South America, Southern Asia, and Western Asia. Although Sub-Saharan Africa (22.7%) remains the world's most food-insecure region, the most significant number of hungry individuals is in Asia (525.6 million). People in developed nations also face food insecurity with about 2% of the population of these nations unable to access sufficient food due to poverty. The following are countries with the best food security in the world.

The World's Best Countries For Food Security

Singapore

Singapore is the most food secure country with its citizens having access to safe and nutritious food at affordable prices. However, Singapore imports 90% of the food it consumes and produces a mere 10%. A low population and high per capita income helps food access. 

Ireland

Ireland slipped to the second position, but unlike Singapore, Ireland producers a vast majority of what it consumes. The secret to feeding its population lies in the adoption of technology in food production, the diversification of agriculture, an established network of food distribution, and an improving per capita income. Large-scale production ensures efficiency and sustainability in the agricultural sector while sufficient rainfall all year round promotes consistent use of available land.

The United States and the United Kingdom

The United States produces a variety of agricultural products for local consumption and export. Large-scale production and an established network of food delivery services ensure the availability of food across the country. Availability of vast fertile lands and the use of technology provides efficiency, while processing of foodstuff reduce wastage. Although most Americans can access food 12% (38 million) Americans including 12 million children are not economically empowered to buy fresh and healthy food. The United States shares the spot with the United Kingdom. Although the latter does not have vast acres of land as the former, the country receives adequate rainfall and has a smaller population to feed. Just like the United States, low-income families in the UK are struggling to purchase food, and a third of the families skip a meal to save on money.

Hinderance To Availability Of Food

Several factors hinder food security including the inability to access and purchase food. A growing global population, a deteriorating global climate, and widening deserts impede the production of crops while unemployment and poverty prevent people from buying food even when available. Strategies and policies to combat food shortage on a global scale include reclaiming the land from the sea and the desert, better land use patterns, improved post-harvest measures, increased food trade, and controlled food prices.