Food Security from the Perspective of European Union Member States

Abstract

International security is one of the main areas of interest of European Union countries. It results from intensifying global phenomena such as population growth, degradation of the natural environment or the growing interdependence between countries, which is an effect of closer cooperation. The progressive liberalization of international activities has also forced member states to take greater control over the flow of agri-food products in increasingly developed supply chains. It is connected with, among others, the deterioration in their nutritional value and healthful quality, which could be prejudicial to people’s health. Hence, it has become extremely important to develop solutions to ensure not only physical and economic access to food, but also that its quality meets certain standards. Not ensuring it may reduce access to food products and, in extreme situations, can even lead to the death of consumers. The aim of the study is to indicate the essence of the problem of food security and to identify how member states are dealing with it. The essence and outline of the evolution of the concept of food security and its current perception will be presented. In addition, factors which destabilize food security and the actions of EU countries aimed at preserving it will be indicated. The study uses a descriptive method and a critical analysis of the literature.