This study is concerned with how changes to the world’s food and agriculture system can contribute to improvements in global food security. It takes stock of a range of existing OECD work, including that undertaken with other international organisations, in particular for the G20, and places that work in the context of wider analysis both by international organisations and in academia.

The OECD has studied many policy and market issues that have implications for food security. Yet most of the work on food security has been implicit, examining underlying determinants such as the functioning of global food markets and the role of agriculture in poverty reduction. This study synthesises that analysis with a view to providing a consistent narrative of the main priorities for ensuring long-term global food security.

Many organisations have also produced important synthetic work on this issue and there is a large element of consensus. This study recognises the main areas of consensus, while seeking to provide a distinct view on some of the strategic priorities and requirements for effective policies.

The policy recommendations seek to improve the coherence of OECD countries’ policies and contribute to multilateral initiatives, such as those pursued through the G20. More widely, the study seeks to contribute to the global debate on issues pertaining to global food security.

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Ensuring global food availability
-The challenge of ensuring global food availability
-Outlook for world food availability
-Easing supply constraints
-Reducing demands that are detrimental to food security
Chapter 3. The role of food and agricultural trade in ensuring domestic food availability
-The balancing role of trade
-The importance of regional food and agricultural trade
-Food import bills of developing countries
-Trade and the stability of domestic markets
Chapter 4. Improving access to food
-Lack of access is the main obstacle to food security
-The importance of incomes versus prices
-Agricultural development as a mechanism for raising incomes
-The role of smallholders
-The role for agricultural policies
-Risks to food access
-Food access and the role of trade
Chapter 5. Food utilisation and nutritional outcomes
-The complements to incomes growth needed to improve nutrition
-Donor support for food and nutrition security
Chapter 6. Priorities for achieving global food security
-Needs for global policy action
-Policy recommendations for OECD countries
-Developing countries’ own policies