Three major threats to global food security

Food is essential to human survival, health and sustainable development. However, food security involves more than producing enough agricultural products or ensuring their availability in markets. It requires all people to have reliable physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs. Economic instability, rising prices, political crises and supply chain disruptions can all threaten this access.

Observed every year on October 16, World Food Day draws attention to global hunger and the challenges facing food systems. These challenges have become increasingly complicated as climate change intensifies, water and soil resources come under pressure, armed conflicts disrupt supply networks, food prices fluctuate and economic inequalities persist.

Consequently, food security cannot be assessed solely through agricultural production and import statistics. Household purchasing power, food quality and safety, supply chain stability, and the ability of agricultural systems to withstand climate-related pressures must also be considered. In Iran, sustainable food security depends on aligning crop production with available water resources and climatic conditions, improving food quality and strengthening people's ability to afford nutritious products.

Food security requires more than increased production

Eskandar Zand, a professor of agricultural engineering at the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP) and former head of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), discussed the importance of food security in connection with World Food Day.

He described food as a fundamental human necessity, noting that food, water and air occupy the base of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, ahead of security and other human requirements.

Zand also referred to the cultural and traditional emphasis on bread and daily sustenance, explaining that the human body needs energy to survive and carry out everyday activities. Food supplies this energy, making access to adequate nourishment essential for both individual well-being and the continuation of social life.

He emphasized that food supply systems must ensure not only sufficient production but also reliable access to food that meets people's nutritional requirements.

In earlier periods, expanding cultivated land was a principal means of increasing agricultural output. As opportunities to extend farmland became increasingly limited, technological advances offered alternative ways to improve productivity and raise yields.

Zand cited the Green Revolution as a notable example of how new agricultural techniques and technologies transformed production. This experience, he said, demonstrates the potential of technological progress to help societies meet their food needs.

Climate change, wars and infectious diseases

According to Zand, three major threats have affected global food security in recent decades: climate change, armed conflicts and infectious diseases. These challenges can undermine agricultural production, disrupt food distribution and make it harder for communities to obtain essential supplies.

The war in Ukraine and other military conflicts illustrate the consequences of instability for food production and trade. Countries experiencing conflict may struggle to produce agricultural goods, maintain supply networks and transport food to consumers.

Climate change also poses serious risks to agricultural systems. Higher temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and increasingly severe weather events can affect crop productivity. Iran is exposed to these challenges and needs to prepare its agricultural sector for their potential consequences.

However, Zand cautioned that rising temperatures do not affect all crops equally. The extent of the impact varies according to crop type, local climatic conditions, the stage of plant development and agricultural management practices.

Biotechnology could help address agricultural challenges

Zand highlighted biotechnology as an important area of development that could help improve agricultural products and address the challenges of food production.

Advances in genetic engineering and genome editing are providing new ways to introduce desirable characteristics into plants. He explained that transgenic technology represents only one approach within agricultural genetic engineering, while genome editing offers additional opportunities to modify plant traits.

Iran must prepare for these emerging technologies regardless of its previous experience with transgenic crops, he said. This requires developing the scientific, technical and institutional capacity needed to adopt new biotechnology applications.

Zand noted that Iran has a substantial base of scientific expertise and specialized researchers, particularly within its universities and research institutions. In his assessment, the main challenge is not necessarily a lack of research capacity but the ability to translate scientific advances into practical applications and secure their acceptance within society.

Providing the necessary infrastructure and institutional support could help Iran expand its technological capabilities and keep pace with international developments. Without these conditions, the country could fall behind as agricultural biotechnology continues to advance.

Global food production does not ensure equal access

Despite substantial food production worldwide, access remains highly unequal. Zand cited estimates indicating that annual global food production reaches approximately nine billion tons, while stressing that high output does not automatically mean that everyone has enough to eat.

Food distribution and consumption differ considerably across regions. While some populations have access to excessive quantities of food, others experience shortages and persistent food insecurity.

He also referred to estimates that approximately 780 million people worldwide continue to face food insecurity. This, he said, demonstrates that increasing agricultural output alone cannot resolve global hunger. Effective distribution, economic accessibility and social conditions are equally important.

In Iran, Zand identified household purchasing power and the ability of food systems to withstand economic shocks as two particularly vulnerable aspects of food security. He also emphasized the need to adjust agricultural production to the country's climatic conditions and available resources.

Food may be produced in sufficient quantities but remain beyond the reach of consumers because of high prices. Zand cited estimates suggesting that a relatively healthy diet costs around $3.50 per person per day worldwide, an expense that many people cannot afford.

He stressed that food security has several interconnected dimensions: food availability, physical and economic access, food safety and quality, and the sustainability and resilience of supply systems. A failure in any one of these areas can undermine the entire system.

Economic access is particularly important for households whose incomes are insufficient to cover rising living costs. Ideally, food expenditure should account for approximately 15 to 20 percent of household income. However, some income groups spend a substantially larger proportion of their earnings on food, leaving them more exposed to price increases and economic instability.

Food safety and nutritional quality are also essential. The availability of food does not guarantee that people can afford nutritious products or obtain food that meets safety standards. Ensuring sufficient calorie intake alone is therefore not enough to achieve food security.

Building resilience against economic and political shocks

Zand said food supply systems should be designed to withstand economic and political disruptions, limiting the risk of sharp price increases whenever a crisis occurs.

He reiterated that food security depends on the combined performance of production, distribution, affordability, safety and long-term sustainability. In Iran, households that allocate a large proportion of their income to food are particularly vulnerable to economic shocks, making improvements in purchasing power and supply chain resilience essential.

The agricultural expert also called for closer attention to food safety, including the health standards applied to livestock products, veterinary supervision and the safety of packaged foods.

He added that planning and implementing the relevant commitments under Iran's Seventh National Development Plan are important steps toward addressing these concerns.

Crop selection must reflect Iran's climate and water resources

Iran's varied climatic conditions make it possible to cultivate a broad range of agricultural products. However, Zand argued that agricultural diversity alone is insufficient to guarantee food security. Crop selection and production strategies must be adapted to local climates and available natural resources.

He pointed to changes in food consumption patterns over approximately the past 40 years, noting a shift toward greater consumption of products that require substantial amounts of water. At the same time, some crops cultivated domestically also place considerable demands on limited water supplies.

This combination highlights the importance of aligning agricultural planning with the country's water availability and climatic conditions. Selecting appropriate crops is essential not only for sustainable farming but also for maintaining reliable food supplies.

Zand concluded that improving food security requires changes in both production and consumption patterns. Aligning agricultural output and dietary habits with Iran's environmental conditions and resource limitations, while improving affordability, food safety and distribution, can help strengthen the country's long-term food security.