FOOD

INSECURITY
M. Larkins, PhD

09/22/10
 Food has Social, Political,
Economic, and Environmental
Dimensions

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What is Food Insecurity?

■ USDA: “limited or uncertain availability

of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or
limited or uncertain ability to
acquire acceptable foods in socially
acceptable ways.”

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 Food Security is Unevenly
Distributed
• The world’s population has more than doubled, from 3
to 7.6 billion in the last 50 years;
• Population/1.7 % per year
• Food production/2.2 % per year
• Food availability has increased in the developed world
to well over 2,200 kilocalories/person per/day.
• However, 900 million people today are chronically
undernourished (WHO, 2014).
• Often disparately impacts women and children

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Oregon: 1 in
6 are food
insecure

http://map.fee
dingamerica.o
rg/

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The average SNAP allotment in the US is $133.07/person.
That is $4.43 per day
The household average is $274.98. For a family of 4 that is
$2.29/day/person

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FIS Risk Factors
■ In children, linked to increased incidence of childhood obesity and
malnutrion, headaches, anemia, upper respiratory infections,
decreased attention span (1)
■ Significant association with increased risk of diabetes and high
blood pressure (2)
■ 27% of households have at least one member with diabetes (of
those households, 37% have a member aged 65+)
■ 12% of Oregonians have been diagnosed or are undiagnosed with
diabetes
■ 48% of households have at least one member with high blood
pressure (of those households, 34% have a member aged 65+)
■ Seniors, represent about 18% of FIS Oregonians.
■ There is a significant correlation between FIS and IPV (3)

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Programming

■ Produce Drop off

■ Recipe cards and ideas in English and Spanish

■ Things to be aware of:

■ SNAP and fear of reporting
■ Availability of summer assistance for K – 12

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Gender and Agriculture in
Malawi
■ Women are the primary farmers of pigeon pea
■ Gender disparities in access to assets, gender roles and
expectations production activities, and marketing
■ Studies indicate a link between women’s economic
empowerment and food system outcomes (food security,
improved nutrition) at the household level.
– Men’s participation in markets and increased alcohol
consumption.
– Bezner Kerr et al. (2013, 2007)

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