The politics of plenty: why food insecurity persists in a world of abundance

Food insecurity is among the most pressing challenges of our time, persisting even when food is available. True food security means ensuring that food is not only available but also accessible, safe, and stable for all.1 Deeper systemic challenges underlie food insecurity: it is less about availability and more about accessibility, safety and stability.23 We prioritise profit over people’s basic needs.

Population growth is frequently cited as a driver of food insecurity,3 but commercial systems and political economy play a far greater role in determining who has access to food. In many regions of the so called global south (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Honduras),24 malnutrition exists alongside high agricultural productivity. Large quantities of food and cash crops are produced but are often exported for profit rather than being used to feed local communities.5 Meanwhile, the cost of global food waste surpasses the gross domestic product of most African countries, amounting $1tn (£750bn; €850bn), enough to feed a billion people with a meal a day.6 This is where reliable data can help to pinpoint gaps and targeted advocacy can ensure that policies are implemented to close gaps effectively.

Food is deeply political. Its production and distribution are shaped by colonial legacies, trade policies, land ownership structures, corporate profits, and economic systems that often prioritise exports over feeding local populations.5

Colonial empires disrupted Indigenous food systems, replacing them with monocultures and cash crops for export, such as tobacco and sugarcane.7 This shift displaced communities and eroded Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity. Today, these systems persist, with genetically modified seeds and industrial agriculture further entrenching dependence on corporations.8 Heirloom seeds and traditional farming methods are often sidelined, compromising genetic diversity and food sovereignty.7

Fixing food security requires rethinking food distribution to focus on circular economies, land reform, and technology.

Firstly, a circular economy shifts from the traditional linear “take, make, dispose” model and seeks to preserve and repurpose resources. For example, repurposing cities’ massive organic waste into fertilizer could support smallholder farmers, boost incomes, and even power energy systems, while reducing reliance on costly imported agricultural inputs. Community-driven urban agriculture projects, such as food forests—food production systems that contain a variety of food plants with the goal of replicating the natural ecosystems and growing patterns found— could enhance food security, boost biodiversity, and contribute to climate resilience.9 If cities become hubs for food production, it could reduce reliance on external supply chains and strengthen local food systems.

Secondly, colonisation displaced many Indigenous communities, forcing them into less fertile regions while fertile lands were taken over for farming cash crops. This disruption decimated Indigenous food systems and severed cultural ties to traditional practices.7 Political elites and corporations often perpetuated these inequities, leaving displaced communities vulnerable to the harms of climate change.

Tackling food insecurity requires restoring land rights to Indigenous communities and supporting sustainable agricultural practices that are rooted in traditional knowledge. Strengthening local food systems through policy reforms that ensure equitable land distribution is key to achieving long term food sovereignty.

Thirdly, technology is often seen as a quick fix for food insecurity. High tech solutions such as genetically modified seeds, fertilizers, and precision machinery promise higher yields. However, technology can also exacerbate inequalities.10 In today’s neoliberal economy, these tools are often controlled by large corporations, leaving small scale farmers dependent and vulnerable. Instead of empowering farmers, technology can trap them in cycles of debt and dependency. To ensure that technology empowers rather than exploits, policies must promote innovation that is led by farmers, agricultural systems that have been developed using agroecological approaches and ecological principles, and open access solutions that prioritise sustainability over corporate profit.