Urbanisation and evolving food security challenges
The third chapter from Sylvia Szabo’s book focuses on the relationship between the evolving nature of food insecurity and urbanisation in different human development contexts. The book examines contemporary urban challenges and opportunities within the context of the traditional Malthusian theory. This chapter delves more specifically into policy oriented research in the area of food security and sustainable development. While traditionally the debate has focused on undernutrition and hunger as the only outcomes of food insecurity, the chapter posits that obesity constitutes a major contemporary food insecurity threat. Drawing from Popkin’s nutrition transition theory, the chapter discusses how obesity and evolving nutrition challenges are increasingly linked to the impacts of urbanisation, such as contemporary lifestyles in urban areas. The chapter provides a revised conceptual framework of food insecurity risks and a conceptual analysis of factors affecting global food insecurity.