Food Security and the Importance
of Food Sovereignty
The USDA defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.
Food security is a basic human right, yet coffee farming families face many causes of food insecurity such as a volatile market, low coffee prices, high food prices, lack of diversified crops, limited opportunities, and the devastating effects of climate change.
While food security is the ultimate goal, it cannot exist without Food Sovereignty.
Food sovereignty is a food system in which the producers, distributors, and consumers also control the methods and policies of food production and distribution. This system focuses on culturally appropriate foods and practices and prioritizes local food economies and sustainable food availability. Currently a global food system exists, a corporate food regime controlled by corporations and market institutions. This food system negatively impacts the health and livelihoods of indigenous populations by disrupting foodways and limiting access to traditional food sources, making food sovereignty difficult to build. It is for this reason that Food 4 Farmers works diligently to help Community Partners develop local food systems that thrive separate from the global food system.