Global food security is a major development challenge dictated by state stability, resilience to geopolitical and economic shocks and is linked to health security. Fragile and failed nation-states are at risk of extreme poverty and lead to war and conflict. Fragile states experience, corrupt financial regimes and are influenced by skewed global market systems and reduced equitable market access that decrease food and health security. This qualitative review describes the critical cross sections of food security, the influence of global market systems and state stability and institutions that form the nexus of global health security. We outline how the manipulation of free market systems and decreased state capacity not only decrease food and health security but also contribute to state fragility and failure. Improved public health policy mechanisms, decreased dependence on foreign financial structures and extractive mechanisms are crucial to improving food and health security at present, and to further increase state stability in the future.
Access to food defines food security. Fragile and failed states lack infrastructure or mechanisms that enable health for its citizens. Fragile and failed states lack duty of care, no mandate and hold no viable written or unwritten contract with their citizens to offer security or inclusive state services that engender a wider notion of public health. Manipulation of free market systems and foreign financial structures coupled with low state ca- pacity to solve complex social and economic concerns lead to a systemically destabilized state, subsequent defi- cient food and health security. Improved food security is inherently linked to empowerment of state government and institutions to create equitable, sustainable and durable policies that decrease health disparities, foster economic sovereignty and improve food security. In this qualitative review, we hypothesize that state fragility and failure is directly linked to food insecurity and subsequent global health security.
We utilize the Failed State Index (FSI) from the Fund for Peace and the new Global Food Security Index (GFSI) from the Economist Intelligence Unit to examine the relationship and interaction with food security against food security markers within fragile and failed states. With this, we examined a variety of factors asso- ciated with food security including food systems, state stability, nutritional access, market manipulation, the re- cent commoditization of food, financial products and risk, influence of food aid programs, food pricing policy, institu- tional capacity, environmental integrity and climate change. Finally, we offer simple policy recommendations to im- prove food security among failed and fragile states specific to nation-state institutional capacity and resuscitation.
The character of food systems, food policy and global food security are changing with global paradigm shift of a post unipolar moment, increased urbanization and myriad migration flows trans-border. In the post-Westphalian and post-Cold War era, multiple state actors influence regional and global order through previously unconven- tional means of regional small-scale conflict that often have large scale global impact [
Fragile and failed states pose a direct and continued threat to food security and global health. Famine and fi- nancial markets that influence food are human products. By framing the issue into a state health framework, evidenced based solutions for food and health insecurity that predominate fragile and failed nation-states can be considered. For the purposes of this paper, we define a fragile or failed state as one that lacks capacity to pro- mote food security through market access and where citizens and the state cannot provide resilient food systems that weather major shocks (i.e. price variability, poor crop years or irreversible environmental degradation). Pes- tilence and drought occur due to nature and climate change. Famine and extractive government institutions are created and maintained by people. We propose that by increasing the presence of inclusive state institutions and implementation of healthy public policies, state stability can improve and be resuscitated from fragility, which in turn can provide a positive feedback loop to improving food security and subsequent health security. We pro- pose that preventing state failure offers improved health security.
The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence that on the continuum of stability and health security, a de- crease in food and health security, antagonizes and further destabilizes state fragility. This descriptive qualitative review attempts to unpack this causal link between state fragility, health and food security. This positive feed- back loop is illustrated in
Within a globalized economy where borders are more porous and both human and financial capital may flow easier, food is as critical to national security as resources such as oil, steel, rubber, water and other raw mate- rials. However, access to a consistent food supply provides the minimum level of human and health security. Food is security and the ability of a state to provide basic infrastructure and free market access to purchase affordable, sustainable and nutritious food is a key state role; the inability to do this is a mark of the state failure. A state holds the duty of care to provide an environment that encourages human and health security for its citizens.
Conflict and food security are inextricably connected. It is well established that countries and communities that experience active conflict are at an increased risk of food insecurity, and subsequent decreased health and human security [
Food as an element of health security is not a forgone conclusion and must be placed within the framework of public health policy. In this review, we propose that health security, human security, economic security and sus- tainable nation-state stability comprise the nexus of human development.
To remain within the framework and context of global health, development, and public health, we hold the definition of health security as the access to essential health services, disease prevention and protection from en- vironmental and behavioral risks as supported by the literature [
Key Factor | Consequence |
---|---|
Access to food, equitable and consistent markets | Price shocks and price variability lead to supply disruption |
Rural and agricultural infrastructure destroyed | A decrease in local supply and disruption in food distribution networks |
Loss of livestock and access to arable land | Decrease in yields and caloric availability |
Deforestation, desertification coupled with rising coastal levels and decreasing potable water tables | Climate change disruption of food availability, natural resource depletion and access to water for consumption |
No consistent access to quality seed, farm technology or human capital | Cycle of poverty with poor access to basic technology and high yield seed |
Migration and human flow: large influx of people into one region, out of another region | Market shock, rapid increase in food demand and price variability |
The use of landmines and other explosive devices throughout arable land | Reduction in arable land access, increased risk of injury or death |
The use of food as a weapon | When food resources and access are in scarcity, coercion of communities and populations can ensue [ |
More specifically, health security includes protection against emerging infectious disease; violence, conflict and natural disasters [
By definition, fragile states often exhibit geographical isolation from a port or trade access, experience physi- cal and economic constraints, a reduction in institutional capacity, corruption at high office, nepotism, external threat and lack of food and health security [
Economic security is a nation-state’s ability to follow its own policies to develop the national economy and to globally compete. On a citizen level, economic security is having access to work, financial resources and or income to support a consistent standard of living―to include financial solvency, future access to work and cash flow.
All states are vulnerable to disaster, war, market shock and disruption to state institutional capacity; however we propose that states ability to buffer these shocks determines whether they are fragile or failing. As found in medicine, prevention is a far more cost effective and efficient treatment modality than is acute treatment of dis- aster. Preventing states from failing and resuscitating those fragile states or states already in failure is a strategic, financial and moral imperative to ensure food and health security. Global financial structure and market systems do not create conditions that support fragile states or their capacity to govern. While global reform to these sys- tems is unlikely, the results of this review conclude that aid and development efforts to improve food security in fragile and failed states should focus on strengthening state institutions, public health infrastructure and making market systems able to weather major financial and economic shock and market uncertainty.
The Fund for Peace publishes the annual Failed States Index (FSI) assessing all countries on the pressures they experience and ultimately the metrics associated to the susceptibility of state failure in aggregate. There are mul- tiple metrics that are based upon key social, political and economic indicators that compose this index (see
States that experience drastic food price fluctuations, economic distortion, disparity and food riots top the list of the FSI and include, Somalia, Chad, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Haiti, Zimbabwe, Af- ghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq and Yemen. Food riots across more than two-dozen countries from 2008 to 2012 were the most visible effect of chronic food insecurity, social, political and economic shock [
The FSI is not without controversy or limitations. Some opponents comment that describing state fragility or failure is nothing but an academic exercise when dealing with state security and development in a complex global arena. Opponents also purport that the use of the “failed state” label is inherently political, and based primarily on Western perceptions and security interests [
Despite these proposed academic shortcomings, the key indicators of external pressure and institutional ca- pacity realities in governance found within the FSI, directly relate to food security for their citizens and overall potential for state institutions in improving the food, health and human security environment. In sum, in this pa- per, fragile and failed states are those that quantitatively top the FSI.
The Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2012, is an assessment of food affordability, availability and quality. The GFSI measures a series of indicators that evaluate present programming, policies and practices that influ- ence food security and ranks 105 countries accordingly [
Social | Economic | Political | Military and Policing |
---|---|---|---|
Demographic pressure | Uneven economic development | Corruption | Drug trade and illicit economy |
Natural disasters and environmental degradation | Access to improved services | Government effectiveness | Human rights and rule of law |
Disease and public health | Poverty and economic decline | Political participation | Human trafficking |
Food scarcity, malnutrition | Unemployment | Water, sanitation, basic infrastructure and energy | Incarceration, torture and executions |
Mortality | Purchasing power, inflation | Quality healthcare | Rebel activity, military coups, bombings |
Refugee and internally displaced peoples | Civil liberties and political freedoms | Foreign military intervention | |
Human flight and brain drain | Internal conflict, riots and protests | Foreign assistance, peacekeeper presence |
As short country case studies, the top 10 states from the FSI can each be unpacked within a food security context. Somalia (FSI2012 = 1; CS114.9; GFSINL) in 2012 experienced famine and lack of access to sustainable food than in the common history of Africa. Somalia not only has a major sociopolitical issue with lack of rule of law, recent- ly seen with piracy on its seas, but also has multiple famine zones where multiple deaths from starvation and dehydration occur daily. Associated morbidity with famine and lack of potable water access with decreased food security occur such as cholera, malaria, poor child development and wasting are rising in both incidence and prevalence. Famine and disease easily dodge borders, neighboring Kenya (FSI2012 = 16; CS98.4; GFSI77, 37.6), Ethiopia (FSI2012 = 17; CS97.9; GFSI100, 26.4) and Eritrea (FSI2012 = 23; CS94.5; GFSINL) are at significant risk of not only being affected by similar famine seen in Somalia, and drought, but also by the health crisis that ensues from mass migration flows trans-border as populations attempt to find basic food and water access [
Furthermore, Chad (FSI2012 = 4, CS107.6; GSFI104, 20.2), a landlocked country with no access to its own port, must rely upon neighboring country infrastructure to have adequate access to global markets; along with now fractured Sudan1 (FSI2012 = 3; CS109.4; GFSI96, 27.6) face a water and food supply crisis, and conflict over mineral rights that has led to food insecurity. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (FSI2012 = 2; CS111.2; GFSI105, 18.4) is experiencing an increase in prevalence of poverty and cholera with consequent health insecurity. Chronic conflict disrupts and limits adequate access to water and food [
Meanwhile, Haiti,(FSI2012 = 7; CS104.9; GFSI102, 24.2), the only North American state in the top 10 of the FSI, lacks the institutional capacity and resilience to promptly recover from the earthquake of 2010 and has expe- rienced waves of cholera and other waterborne disease, as well as, food insecurity due to heavy reliance on food imports. For example, the humanitarian response has brought on a manmade cholera epidemic that has killed over 7000 people and infected more than 400,000 throughout Haiti [
In Zimbabwe (FSI2012 = 5; CS106.3; GFSINL), lack of transparency, political and financial corruption and insta- bility persist. Food insecurity is greatly impacted through a reduction in ecological integrity, climate related agricultural disruption and a decline in regional food production. Zimbabwe also experiences increased inci- dence of the vaccine preventable illness measles. Nearby Central African Republic (FSI2012 = 10; CS103.8; GFSINL), another landlocked country may be unstable due to spillover from neighboring state failure and con- flict. Its landlocked status may contribute to a stagnant economy, reliance on food imports, reduced access to food and agriculture infrastructure, increased food costs and decreased food security.
Iraq (FSI2012 = 9; CS104.3; GFSINL) and Afghanistan (FSI2012 = 6; CS106.0; GFSINL) have been listed in the top ten of the FSI since its inception and pose increased risks to food security and public health as they are expe- riencing remnants of war, foreign occupation and transition out of conflict and state destabilization. Both coun- tries face extreme risk of food security due to weak state institutions, fledgling rule of law and quantifiable state fragility experienced by post conflict states. Increasing food price shock strain the financial resources of dis- placed populations throughout Iraq and in bordering Syria (FSI2012 = 23; CS94.5; GFSI70, 42), Jordan (FSI2012 = 90; CS74.8; GFSI54, 50.6) and EU applicant Turkey (FSI2012 = 85; CS76.6; GFSI36, 63.7) with increased migration flow of internally and externally displaced peoples [
Indeed, Syria has considerable destabilizing shocks related to all key indicators of state stability―most nota- bly major migration of people into neighboring Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon, major unemployment, lack of state legitimacy, a factionalized elite, daily acts of war, protests and riots, torture and potential significant human rights abuses. Syria is fragile and many citizens throughout the county are food insecure. The Arab Spring has experienced extensive prolonged crisis with increased violence, considerable mortality, limited foreign interven- tion and considerable access by the state to a monopoly of violence to ethnically diverse communities. The Sy- rian agricultural sector is in decline and in some regions halted, due to consecutive years of drought and the im- pact of conflict; critical inputs such as fertilizer and seed are no longer available and harvests have been dis- rupted as seasonal workers have found travel to agricultural districts impossible due to basic security [
Further conflict in Afghanistan highlights challenges to food security and public health in prolonged conflict, oppression of civil society and the NATO occupation force with unclear redeployment timelines or continuity of force. Furthermore, the agricultural practices of planting high profit poppy for illicit street and drugs of abuse to be sold in local and foreign markets, as opposed to, higher caloric yield crops such as rice, wheat and cereals, coupled with an austere environment are leading to a public health crisis and food insecurity for its people [
Officially, failed states are not the only at risk counties for food insecurity, the Middle East and North African (MENA) region is a formulaic region of states that rely heavily on imports for grain consumption with finance from internal natural resource extraction (oil, natural gas etc.). Geopolitical instability throughout the MENA region with regime change, protests, riots and significant state sponsored violence prevails. The regime upheav- als that previous heads of state Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Muammar Al-Qaddafi in Libya may only be the start of social and economic unrest with a major food security component and in some cases, its catalyst. Iran for example (FSI2012 = 34; CS89.6; GFSINL) has experienced a doubling of its basic foodstuffs import market costs since the summer 2012 round of imposed sanctions, many tied to oil ex- ports and resulting in a collapse of the Iranian Rial, with potential further sanction and state destabilization or foreign military intervention. A summary table of the top 10 fragile states and their corresponding malnourish- ment and food security rankings are found in
Food insecurity leads to under-nutrition at the micro and macro nutrient level. This arises not only through access to food markets, food transport and safe environments that encourage food security, but soil itself must also be capable of sustainably producing locally sourced food. Through over-farming lands or by relying on a single crop for export or consumption, the depletion of essential water stores, essential soil elements and overall environmental degradation occurs. Said plainly, the health of the environment drives agriculture. Its success drives commodity markets and pricing, price and demand drives food production, which in turn drives local and international economies of scale.
Country | FSI2012 Rank [ | FSI CS2012 (composite score) | GFSI2012 Rank (1 = best score) | GFSI2012 Score (100 = best score) | Malnourishment Prevalence [ | Number of Population (undernourished) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Somalia | 1 | 114.9 | Not ranked | Not ranked | No data | Unknown |
Congo (Democratic Republic) | 2 | 111.2 | 105 | 18.4 | 39% | 4.1 million |
Sudan | 3 | 109.4 | 96 | 27.6 | 22% | 8.8 million |
Chad | 4 | 107.6 | 104 | 20.2 | 13% | 0.5 million |
Zimbabwe | 5 | 106.3 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 57% | 5.5 million |
Afghanistan | 6 | 106.0 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 30% | 3.7 million |
Haiti | 7 | 104.9 | 102 | 24.5 | No data | No data |
Yemen | 8 | 104.8 | 83 | 33.3 | 40% | 1.7 million |
Iraq | 9 | 104.3 | Not ranked | Not ranked | No data | No data |
Central African Republic | 10 | 103.8 | Not ranked | Not ranked | 14% | 2.9 million |
Poverty is inversely proportional to food security and directly proportional to state fragility. Chronic under nutrition reduces overall productivity and increases vulnerability to entirely preventable illnesses and in young children, it increases vulnerabilities to chronic illnesses, impairs motor skills, cognitive abilities and economic and social productivity later in life.
Obesity, starvation and micronutrient deficiencies are experienced in both the developed and developing world―a preventable health problem directly linked to food security and food access [
Unbalanced nutrition, inadequate access to food and food markets, and misappropriation of resources are commonly found within fragile and failed states at the governmental and household levels. These are com- pounded by inadequate access to nutritious food, arable land, fresh water, sustainable energy, non-toxic fertiliz- ers or adequate farm technology. Another contributing factor is the use of arable land and food crops for biofuel production and energy. All of these factors make increasing global food output extremely difficult. But how does the food market work to enable food security or insecurity?
Supply and demand drive commodity prices in the free market―regardless of moral character of the commodity. Without global financial regulation, the commoditization of food, healthcare and other common goods will create a market system where inequality encourages human suffering to maximize revenues [
When harvest yields on crops fluctuate, even by small margins, the global effects on food security are long lasting, intensified and encourage market access inequality. The absence of and otherwise ineffective and weak state institutions with poor governance by the state all contribute to this increase in state vulnerability and insta- bility with an obvious market component.
Owing to unknown future crop yields in most types of agriculture, financial instruments have been developed for investors to wager on the future price of many agricultural commodities; this helps offset the economic ef- fects of potential crop losses. If crop yields for a commodity (e.g. wheat and grain) are greater than expected in a certain market, the market price may drop. Conversely, if there is a poor harvest and less grain is reaped, the market price would rise precipitously. In fragile and failed states, market forces can be altered by conflict, war, dysfunctional humanitarian programming or other food aid into a market, corrupt practices and complete break- down in rule of law and economic infrastructure. This can be seen best with international currency tariffs on outflows of money, closing of banks or not making good on past deposits, collapse of any fledging financial sector and uncontrollable inflation making local currencies worthless. The market manipulation that was seen through commodity markets and traders in recent years has led to soaring prices and food insecurity [
In 1991, in order to limit risk and maximize the potential profit from uncertain commodity prices, the financial firm of Goldman Sachs developed the Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) [
Before the GSCI was constructed, the Commodity Research Bureau (CRB) index functioned to help measure the overall direction of commodity sectors. The CRB enabled investors to help assess the financial risks asso- ciated with long and short-term investments in agricultural products and commodities. However, the CRB index was less sophisticated than the GSCI, which enabled investors to focus their investments more tightly, and eventually dictate price changes that resulted in considerable price fluctuations, food insecurity and the prevent- able catastrophe of famine for several regions.
For example, the price of grain was traded between buyers and sellers at its future price―before the bushel had been grown, harvested or valued by that market. This may sound like a questionable wager, but this concept and practice enables price stability in wheat and grain for a loaf of bread. It also allows farmers to hedge in- vestment for times of poor crop yield years and to invest within their own farms and business. Furthermore, these practices help to decrease the price of grain with time and greatly impact decades of public policy, huma- nitarian aid and enable food security for many countries and markets. These are defining features of a very con- nected global grain market with many countries still attempting to impose subsidy interventions, which can in- clude land grabs of arable land in poor nations by wealthier nations to farm a myriad of crops for investor coun- tries’ food security. These crops, now grown in a poorer nation by wealthy countries and multinational agricul- tural firms will, due to rising prices, make it to market only in rich states.
The link between the price variability of grain on local and international markets is complex. However, when grain is traded on one of the three major American primary grain exchanges in Chicago, Kansas City or Minne- apolis, the price affects global food pricing [
With this as context, the advent of the GSCI slowly set the stage for great disruption in such a global market by long-term investment in grain with no commitment to food production or mechanism to offset food insecurity. The ability to buy and sell grain commodities, as well as to provide liquidity in the market with actual grain sto- rage and food production, became disconnected. The market was able to treat the future of grain and other commodities on the GSCI similarly to that of a stock or other financial product without having to produce, store or actually sell any grain at all. This was a departure from what grain really is, namely a tangible, agricultural yield in the form of bushels, and it was quickly transformed into an investment product with limitless paper value [
This new financial product in commodities attracted many investors to consider their investment in grain fu- tures as safe. Although this investment strategy led to significant investments in grain futures, there was no market mechanism to prevent “shorting”, or selling, and subsequent extreme fluctuations and instability in price [
Viewing the natural world as a venue purely for profiteering, and choosing not to observe the negative and catastrophic consequences of limitless profit has led to the destruction of natural ecosystems and a health secu- rity void throughout many regions. Agriculture should not be a servant of economic growth, but rather a founda- tional source of social and ecological sustainability that encourages food security and stability [
This was particularly apparent during the financial crises of 2007-2008 when investors sold their stocks and put it into gold and grain, thus driving their prices to new heights. Grain and many other commodities, were seen as safer investments to park capital than other risky products such as mortgage-backed securities. In market terms, the endless competition to maximize crop yields, especially in wheat, and to enable basic food security to support health, faced the investment banker who artificially increased the price of grain and coordinated a man- made and preventable food crisis. Put simply, if the price of grain was rising considerably, poor country markets would profit more by selling grain to wealthier nations rather than on local markets for local consumption―an unsustainable model.
Market manipulation occurs globally. However, it is impossible to track the people that are responsible and to hold anyone accountable when famine results. With the advent of market speculation buying and computer as- sisted trading, these risks increase rapidly. The consequences of economic misadventure can be disastrous and irreparable on a global health, social, economic and environmental scale. Nation-states must already have some level of institutional capacity in order to be prepared for market fluctuations and have rule of law to oppose the myriad of arenas of direct foreign financial intervention, abuse and cronyism.
When a country relies too heavily on foreign food production or raw wheat as an import, a doubling in the price of wheat or any slight fluctuation in price can send tidal waves throughout the economy and send its citizens to the streets in search of food security [
Global food systems have become highly politicized and grossly distorted through manipulation at regional and international levels; however, supply and demand still holds true with agricultural products such as grain and wheat (and many others). What this means is that at market, food and grain suppliers sell to the highest bid- der or to those consumers that have prior contracts and arrangements for long term and stable purchases (gov- ernments etc.) and the price is not only affected by the number of orders but also through market distortion, country level subsidization and economic arbitration across borders―the purchase of cheap product in one country, to sell for profit in another country and in another market. Price fluctuations in the market have been influenced by factors such as grain-fed beef cattle for human consumption and grain crops grown for biofuels and not for human food [
The consequences and negative impacts of a rise in the price of food are not felt equally across markets [
To gauge food price variability across the globe, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations monitors the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities [
Commodity prices are not the only indicators of food security; hunger and malnourishment are as well. Mal- nourishment is tracked by this index and the correlating values to that of the FSI as found previously in
While the FAO collects and analyses global agricultural data and provides technical assistance, there is no organized effort to ensure the adequacy of world food supplies or food security [
There is no broad-spectrum antibiotic or policy cocktail to increase food and consequent health security in fra- gile and failing states. However, the underlying thread throughout such policy must purport that by resuscitating failed states and preventing failure in fragile states, health and food security will increase directly to that of in- stitutional capacity and state health. If there is an increase in state stability, there is a potential increase in health and food security. The integration of development policy of fragile and failed states with that of public health and food programming must be interdisciplinary and defines the nexus of health security.
The theoretical components of state resuscitation must increase state transparency, free but soberly regulate economic and financial systems that can withstand impact and exhibit resilience mechanisms; increase demo- cratic institutions through social and civic organizations, the practical components of rule of law and contracts and widening government capacity and its control of violence. Financial and market system reform in commodi- ties is needed within states and globally tore-calibrate how food aid is given and to ensure there is a sustainable development focus.
Sustainable development is equitable and focuses on increasing living standards across communities and popu- lations. Contrary to extractive institutions, sustainable development does not rapidly diminish natural resources, human capital or otherwise cause creative destruction [
Humanitarian aid and development is in a state of paradigm shift with one force pushing for the growth of new sources of aid and loans from high and middle income countries, private capital and charitable organiza- tions while the other side focuses on the rights of individuals and advocacy of at risk populations and communi- ties. It must be noted that any solution to the food security problem cannot include simply sending food as aid. This is not an entirely possible, credible or evidenced-based policy that has proven effective or reproducible to assist with fragile or failed states or in helping to build any sustainable model to prevent the next crisis [
It is our conclusion that resource poor countries can no longer rely on outside aid for public health support and state stability ambitions. Humanitarianism that supports food aid is in a state of debacle as global financial crisis has challenged the archetype of donor financial support and subsequent operation; sustainability is not in- tegrated into this old model of aid of simply giving without accountable obligation [
Strengthening inclusive and democratic foundations of governance, accelerating sustainable economic growth through aid and financial regulation that supports enterprise but does not allow human incentive to commoditize without limit of basic goods; improving basic health metrics of citizens through sanitation and primary health- care access (highlighting preventative medicine in the form of vaccines)and consolidating the use and control of violence to the state, limiting or removing destabilizing non-state actors and professionalizing security forces must be policy drivers.
For example, certain states, regional communities and households will need immediate food assistance in the midst of a food crisis emergency; however, fragile and failed states require assistance prior to, as presentation, such major shocks to reduce risk and increase state institution capacity slowly, in effect primary prevention at the state aid level. Early warning systems that focus on food and health related metrics such as malnourishment and infectious disease incidence and treatment compliance, as well as food price variability, can assist the priori- tization of aid from donors in both the public and private sector [
The approach of the European Commission (EC) revolves around attempts to reconstruct state capacities in fragile states through technocratic measures leaving fundamental problems of state corruption, ethnic relations, human rights and inequality out of reach [
Agriculturally, increasing sustainability through small-farmer rights, developing regionally specific agricul- tural methods that increase provision of food market access at the local market level and legitimate sustainability, seed-exchanges, micro-finance focusing on the farming sector are required [
A summary of the basic policy initiatives proposed to resuscitate fragile and failed states are found in
Our review and analysis have found that public health within states is directly linked to that of state stability and food security. Food and health security is dictated by state stability, resilience to geopolitical, economic and health shocks. Fragile and failed states are highly vulnerable to shocks and are at risk of extreme poverty, war and chronic conflict. These states lack inclusive institutions and basic state mechanisms that engender stability and reduce barriers to securing public health and food security for their citizens. Fragile and failed states have a lower threshold to conflict and war, experience corrupt financial regimes and are influenced by skewed global market systems that decrease food and health security for the short and long term.
Food security correlates with health security and is dictated by state stability. Building state institutional capacity leads to economic, social and political stability, which feeds positively to induce further state stability, food security and health security. Market reforms and resuscitating fragile and failed states by capacity building of state institutions, encouraging sustainable agriculture and a overturning of the status quo to a more sustainable environment can increase food security.
・ Prevention of fragile states falling into failure, preventative diplomacy that encourage inclusive institutions and the triage of fragile and failed states in global development agendas |
---|
・ International Community support for governments that support rule of law, security, basic policing, public health, multilateral governmental treaties and ethical and transparent governmental and banking practices |
・ State supported safety nets to alleviate food insecurity through food programming (sustainable in the short term―not to encourage dependency) |
・ Sustainable food aid through agricultural, technological and sustainable practices with educational access |
・ Predictable, transparent and partnership oriented private sector policy involvement |
・ Preparation to tackle the expected impacts of market manipulation and price shocks |
・ Multilateral stakeholder policy that encourages investment that encourage environmental integrity, environmental infrastructure and environmental protection |
・ Strengthening and supporting basic public health and hygiene infrastructure to citizens―to include primary healthcare access in the basic form of vaccines and potable water |
・ Encourage democratic, sustainable and governmental policy that reverse fragile states and mitigate state failure |
・ Institutional capacity building to increase resilience and adaptations to market and social shock |
・ Building institutional capacity to manage environmental, economic and political shocks |
・ Encouraging stability on both the short and long term to rule of law, institutional capacity building and democracy [ |
・ Food industry targets for under nutrition |
・ Increase in public-private development |
This paper was in part funded by a grant by Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague and is dedicated to GAUK/910892. All authors have contributed equally to the research, drafting and finalizing of the manuscript.
John Quinn,Tomas Zeleny,Vladimir Bencko, (2014) Food Is Security: The Nexus of Health Security in Fragile and Failed States. Food and Nutrition Sciences,05,1828-1842. doi: 10.4236/fns.2014.519197