Increasing the Resilience of the Food Systems
In Islamic States in Face of Future Food Crises
14
Phase Select Key Outcomes
Food Access/Availabilitysevere entitlement gap; unable to meet 2,100 kcal
ppp day
Water Access/Avail. <7.5 liters ppp day (human usage only)
Famine/
Humanitarian
Catastrophe
Crude Mortality Rate > 2/10,000/day (example: 6,000/1,000,000/30 days)
Acute Malnutrition > 30 % (w/h <-2 z-score)
Food Access/Availabilityextreme entitlement gap; much below 2,100 kcal
ppp day
Water Access/Avail. <4 liters ppp day (human usage only)
Source: IPCTechnical Manual
The IPC food insecurity scales,33 whichare one of the IPC tools that measurefood insecurity,were
adopted by the two authoritative global reports on food security and crises; the Global Report on
Food Crises (GRFC) and the State of Food Security and Nutrition in theWorld (SOFI).34 However,
the Global Reporton Food Crises focuses on acute food insecurity and providesestimates for food-
insecure populations facing crisis conditionsor worse (IPC/CHPhase 3 or above) at theworstpoint
in the year; the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World focuses on chronic
undernourishmentandchronic food insecurity, providingestimates of undernourishment and food
insecurity faced by households and individuals on average during a year. It is worth noting that
acute food insecurity (short-term), measured by the GRFC, can lead to chronic food insecurity
(persisting for more than sixmonths of the year), measured by SOFI if the drivers behindthe food
crisis are not resolved and in cases of exposure to recurrent shocks.
Beyond food security, food defense is also critical for establishing sustainable food systems. Food
security is a fundamental and ongoing requirementfor all countries toaddress unplanned adverse
shocks to the food system, spanning a range of threats that include but are not limited to
environment factors, economic shocks, or conflict. Sustainable food systems also require an
advanced defense mechanism to address intentional attacks on the food system.35
1.5. Linking sustainable food systems to economic growth
There is a clear, undeniable link between stable food systems and macroeconomic growth and
stability. Countries that have experienced high levels of poverty and malnutrition experience
limited human capital development, a necessary condition for sustained economic growth.
Governmentsareforced to invest significantresources in theshort-termwheretherearehigh levels
of povertymalnutrition force governments through socialsafety netprograms andconditional cash
transfers. As a result, highmalnutrition ratescan lead to losses in gross domestic product (DGP) of
as much as 4 to 5 percent, according to the UNFAO.36
33 The Global Report on Food Crises(GRFC), uses the IPC-Acute Scalewhich categorizes acute food insecurity intofive
phases; Minimal, Stressed, Crisis, Emergency, and Famine, while the State of Food Security and Nutrition in theWorld (SOFI)
uses the IPC-Chronic Scalewhich categorizes chronic food insecurity into four phasesMinimal, Mild, Moderate, and Severe
Chronic Food Insecurity.
34 The abbreviation refers to the original name of the report since it was first published and up to 2015, The State of Food
Insecurity in theWorld.
35 John Hopkins UniversityCenter for PublicHealth. (2019). Bioterrorism and food safety. Retrieved from
36 Torero, Maximo. (2014, October 15). Food security brings economic growth —not the other way around. IFPRI:
International Food PolicyResearch Institute. Retrieved fro