The UNESCO Chair in World Food Systems breaks down the barriers of knowledge on food. The So What? collection translates the results of research into straightforward conclusions for action.
POLICY BRIEF N° 24 • NOVEMBER 2022 www.chaireunesco-adm.com
A territorial approach to food insecurity factors using open access data Justine Labarre, Unesco Chair in World Food Systems, Montpellier, France Claire Néel, INRAE, UMR Innovation, Montpellier, France Coline Perrin, INRAE, UMR Innovation, Montpellier, France Nicolas Bricas, Cirad, UMR MoISA and Unesco Chair in World Food Systems, Montpellier, France KEY POINTS ●
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The work presented here complements the traditional measurement of food aid beneficiary numbers by proposing an index to identify territories with presumed food insecurity. This index is based on open access statistical data. While it is therefore incomplete, it gives some indication of the various forms of precarity observed in territories. In the Hérault département in France, the index shows that municipalities with multiple factors of food insecurity are mostly located in the rural hinterland. They are often far away from food aid organizations, which tend to be concentrated in urban areas.
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n France, food insecurity in a territory can be assessed based on the number of food aid1 beneficiaries in that territory, using the figures provided by major accredited organizations. However, not all organizations provide comparable data, and some have no data at all. Moreover, part of the population in a situation of food insecurity does not take up these aid schemes, which are also geographically unevenly distributed. Thus, not only do the current statistics overlook part of the food insecurity that exists, but they also do not allow There is therefore for a comparison between territories. There is a strong need therefore a strong need for public policy as well as aid organizations to better assess the extent of for public policy this insecurity across different territories. to better assess Characterizing the different factors that lead the extent of this to food insecurity is also important. Several studies have addressed this issue. Some of the insecurity across indexes they propose are operational, designed different territories. to be appropriated by the actors in a given territory2. However, these studies are limited by the lack of availability of certain data and/or difficulties in accessing them (data on homelessness or certain health data). Other studies propose an “ideal” index, taking into account all the dimensions of food insecurity but without factoring in the existence and accessibility of data3. 1. The purpose of food aid is to provide foodstuffs (prepared meals, food parcels, products in social and/or solidarity grocery shops, for example) to people in a situation of economic or social vulnerability, and it must be coupled with the offer of support (Art. L.266-2, Code de l’action sociale et des familles). 2. For example: index designed by Crédoc and Ansa for the Île-de-France Region (ansa-precaritealimentaire.credoc.fr). 3. For example: work by Magali Ramel as part of the Pays Terres de Lorraine territorial food project (www.terresdelorraine.org/fr/projet-alimentaire-territorial.html).
With the support of Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture
Chaire Unesco en alimentations du monde France