Food security and conflict
Lack of food has been the source of many past and recent conflicts. Food insecurity has clearly been a factor behind outbreaks of social unrest or worse, yet conflict also has induced notable instances of food insecurity. Conflict often involves competition over control of the factors of food production, primarily land and water. Having more people to feed, more pressure on land and water, more variable climates, and greater price volatility tends to increase stress; it also raises the risk of civil unrest or worse conflict. Countries under the greatest stress often have the least capability to respond. It is critical to break the vicious circle of conflict and food insecurity, especially in rural areas that tend to be poorer and more dependent on agriculture for both food and livelihoods. Food aid is the typical instrument used to limit immediate food insecurity impacts of conflict, and continues to alleviate even greater harm to innocent people in many situations of conflict. Done right, food aid can also assist in better transition to longer-term agricultural productivity growth and local market development. However, it is not likely to be possible to significantly reduce conflict in fragile and poor countries on a sustained basis without significant new investment and partnerships in key areas of agriculture and rural development.
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