In recent years, there have been turbulent developments in the market prices of crops essential to feeding the world’s population, such as rice, wheat and maize. Access to sufficient, nutritious food is very uncertain for the world’s poorer consumers.
The research agenda of LEI on food security therefore comprises short-term risk reduction. The work also focuses on agricultural development and poverty relief in the longer term. Global food security is a facet of development incorporating a balance between social, ecological and economic aspects.
Food chain
The food chain from farmer to consumer is subject to increasingly strict quality and logistical requirements. It requires constant innovation and effective cooperation if small producers in developing countries are realistically going to be a part of this chain. LEI is studying and evaluating policy and development efforts in this area.
Competing claims on scarce resources
Explorations for the future (2030 and beyond) form an important aspect of the work of LEI, as does the improved transparency of the competing claims on scarce resources for the production of food, bio-energy and raw materials, such as fresh water, fertile land, soil nutrients such as phosphate, and oil and other minerals.
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