Abstract
Food safety policies have gained considerable importance in recent years, food safety being one of the indicators that illustrates the standard of living and quality of life within a nation state. In order to assess food security, we analyzed the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) that, economically, is based on GDP, degree of poverty and agricultural production, extending also to areas such as government and public policies, which are usually not directly included in food safety indicators or generating factors. Considering the importance and impact of food safety, starting from the theoretical concepts, from the current state of food safety in Europe, presented by the means of GFSI and its components, we developed a set of measures based on the grouping (correlation) of states following the analysis of hierarchical ranking of clusters. To analyse clusters hierarchical ranking the food safety indicators were used as input, dependent data. As an independent variable, with a strong influence on all the others, determined by means of multiple linear regression, we considered GDP/inhabitant at the level of each analysed state. The design of the set of measures considered the correlation that can be established among the various GFSI indicators that influence and generate the current state of food security in different European countries and the influence these indicators can have on maintaining or improving this state.
Highlights
Over the years and especially in the recent decades, food safety has improved significantly at global level, it can be seen that evolutions of different countries and regions have been uneven, with a significant percentage of the population displaying a low degree of safety in terms of food
The study coverage area comprised 26 European states which in 2018 were among those selected by the Economist Intelligence Unit in collaboration with Corteva Agriscience to participate in the annual study on the Global Food Security Index (EIU, 2018)
Food safety is a complex and multidimensional issue related to the availability, accessibility and use of food over time
Summary
Over the years and especially in the recent decades, food safety has improved significantly at global level, it can be seen that evolutions of different countries and regions have been uneven, with a significant percentage of the population displaying a low degree of safety in terms of food. In the same climate of opinion, the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) performs an assessment of the food security context, focusing on factors that determine food security, rather than on food security results This index includes direct factors related to food security, such as food supply, the share of food in total individual spending, level of poverty or nutritional policies, and extends and covers indirect factors such as availability of financial services, corruption, political steadiness, etc. The index is based, economically, on the GDP, the degree of poverty, agricultural production, and extending to areas such as government and public policies that are usually not directly included in the indicators or factors generating food security It can be used in a complementary way with other means of measuring food security, but it is not a substitute. Thomas et al (2017) recommends the use of the GFSI along with other indicators of food security, namely those measuring food safety outcomes for food consumption and nutritional status of the population in order to have a correct estimate of the contextual status of food safety
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
