Increasing the Resilience of the Food Systems
In Islamic States in Face of Future Food Crises
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monitor food insecurity and hunger. They provide support to national information systems and
provide “Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping and Food Security Needs Assessments .” In
cooperation with the WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank, they publish the annual State of Food
Security and Nutrition in the World report, which compiles analysis of data from member
countries to help them prevent and tackle food crises.88 Both Ireland and the U.S. actively
support the efforts of UN bodies through financial and technical contributions.
2.4. Monitoring Food Security – Best Practices
Given the importance of monitoring food security for avoiding devastating effects and ensuring
proper management of food crisis situations, best practice countries use a comprehensive set of
monitoring tools and systems. Agricultural production monitoring systems are used by both
Ireland Ireland, agricultural productivityismeasured andmonitored using
Total Factor Productivity (TFP), which measures changes in productivity based on the ratio
between thechange in production volumes and therelated changesin inputs used toproduce them
over a specified period. This showsthecombinedeffectsofmany elements, including the useof new
technologies, benefits from increased efficiency, managerial skills, economies of scale, and
variations in the organization of production.89 In the U.S., the Department of Agriculture has
developed an agricultural baseline database that provides 10-year projections for the food and
agriculture sector.90 With respect to market information systems, both Ireland and the U.S. have
tools for tracking trade and price data.
In terms of social monitoring or monitoring of vulnerable groups, Ireland uses the "consistent
poverty" indicator, which has two sub-component indicators: the at-risk-of-poverty indicator
(individualswith household incomes lower than 60% of themedian); and the basic deprivation
indicator (individuals missing on two or more of 11 basic necessities).91 The U.S. conducts an
annual survey-based analysis of the number of food-insecure households, which highlights
impacts to the wellbeing of children, adults, families, and communities, and the relationships
between public policies, public assistanceprograms, and the economy.92 For food and nutritional
surveillance, Ireland has a nutrition surveillance program—launched in2015—basedon guidelines
from the European Food SafetyAuthorityGuidance on the EUMenuMethodology, the UKNational
Diet and Nutrition Survey methodology, and the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance
methodology.93 In the U.S.,the Food and Drug Administration monitors nutrition and food safety,
88 FAO. (2017). Global Strategic Frameworkfor Food Security& Nutrition
(GSF).
89 European Commission. (2016). Productivity in EU agriculture. Retrieved from
90 USDA. ( 2018, Septemeber 5). Food Security in the US. Retrieved fro
91 Department of Employment Affairs and Social Welfare . (2017, September 28). Poverty Indicators.. Retrieved from
92 USDA. (2018, September 5). Food Security in the US.. Retrieved fro
93 Safefood. (2015, May). Framework for a Nutrition Surveillance Program for the Island of Ireland. Retrieved from
island-of-Ireland.aspx