Food Security and Safety - as Crucial Elements in Shaping the Future of a Nation

• Author: Liviu-Mihail Marinescu, Vasile Bogdan
• Position: Associate Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania/Associate Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania
• Pages: 169-176

ISSN: 2067 – 9211 Performance and Risks in the European Economy

169

Food Security and Safety - as Crucial

Elements in Shaping the Future of a Nation

Liviu-Mihail Marinescu1, Vasile Bogdan2

Abstract: It is common knowledge that almost 20% of Earth’s population is using about 80% of its

resources (Brown L. , 2000, pp. 57-58). The current populace number does exceed 7 billion, and despite

all extant crises, it can reach n early 9 billion in 2050 - a number which might stabilise at approximately

10 billion in the prospect of the year 2300. It is already known that food is insufficiently well distributed

among people, more than 2/3 of World’s p opulation running into difficulties regarding that matter.

Provided the current course of soil fertility degradation is maintained – corroborated with population

growth, food deficit will dramatically boost in future. The situation may aggravate when the financial

crisis shatters the fragility of economies in the poorest countries (Nations, 2004, pp. 52-55). The standard

of living and that of well-being of population are two different notions that do also interfere, they being

interconnected. The concept of well-being implies a decent standard of living, both at the individual level

and at the ceiling of the whole society. Reaching a decent living standard is about achieving a standard of

living compatible with human dignity, and is measured by the q uantities and types of goods and services

by which entire populations might benefit, as well as the rock bottom conditions of living (Bogdan, 2014,

pp. 94-99). Ensuring high levels of food security and safety stands for certifying a good standard of

living, with offering the possibilities and assurances for national development.

Keywords: food security; po verty; daily b asket; standard of living; poverty; relative poverty; absolute

poverty; extreme poverty; strategy

1. Food Security

In human beings, sustenance is referred to as foodstuff or food products, in animals it is called fodder,

and in plants, it is nutrients that are in use. Foodstuff is presented in the form preparations, processed

foods or deli products, with a composition of over 95% organic matter of either vegetable or animal

nature and a maximum of 5% inorganic materials, mainly various salts (Brown, et al., 1992, pp. 13-

16). Regarding food security, it must be acknowledged that a healthy person is in direct connection

with healthy food systems. In other words, we, as human beings, are exactly what we are eating in

terms of living energy (nourishment).

1 Associate Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd, Galati, Romania,

Corresponding author: marinesculiviu@univ-danubius.ro.

2 Associate Professor, PhD, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd, Galati, Romania, E-mail:

bogdan.vasile@univ-danubius.ro.