Sustainable Food Security, A Paradigm for Local and Regional Food Systems
Harry Donkers

Abstract
In this paper, in the light of sustainability, we analyze the current dominant industrial agriculture and food system. The system was developed successfully regarding production, output and profitability, but social inequality and environmental problems increased and the system did not succeed in bringing the world food problem closer to a solution. Since elimination of hunger is top priority among world’s leading institutions it is justified and not out of proportion to exacerbate the definition of sustainability to food and take food security into accountexplicitly. We define a new paradigm – called sustainable food security – that is urgently required to provide sufficient and healthy food for all people, without exhausting our planet. This paradigm of sustainable food security requires a focus on local resources. We argue that the best way to achieve this is by means of the local and regional food systems that we see springing up globally. We discuss opportunities and challenges of the re-emerging local food systems in the light of the new paradigm of sustainable food security. To proceed we propose the development and ratification of a new global treaty based on the concept of sustainable food security.

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