Food Security And Regional Planning Approach: Challenges & Opportunities

Abstract

Global food insecurity is rapidly increasing. In 2021 an estimated 29.3 per cent of the global population (2.3 billion people) was moderately or severely food insecure while 828 million people in the world (10.5 per cent of the world population) faced hunger. This paper explores the critical intersection of food security and regional planning, highlighting the challenges and opportunities inherent in addressing food insecurity through strategic spatial and developmental approaches. With global food insecurity on the rise—impacting approximately 29.3% of the world’s population in 2021 and showing pronounced regional disparities there is an urgent need for effective regional planning to combat this crisis. This study emphasizes the varying degrees of food insecurity across different continents, particularly focusing on the complex scenario in Asia and India, which despite being major food producers, face significant challenges related to distribution, access, and sustainability. Food security encompasses three dimensions: availability, accessibility, and intake, each affected by production, distribution, purchasing power, and health infrastructure. Regional planning plays a pivotal role in addressing these dimensions by optimizing resource distribution, integrating agriculture into broader development plans, and improving infrastructure for food distribution. However, there are notable gaps, including the lack of region-specific assessments and insufficient data granularity, which hinder effective regional planning and policy implementation. The paper underscores the need for an integrated regional planning perspective that considers spatial, economic, and environmental factors to develop tailored and effective food security strategies. By leveraging agricultural innovations, sustainable practices, and robust policy support, there are significant opportunities to enhance food security. Addressing these challenges and opportunities through a comprehensive regional planning approach is essential for improving food security and ensuring equitable access to resources.