TO THE QUESTION OF FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Abstract

Food security is characterized by a number of indicators that are designed to provide both quantitative and qualitative assessment. The indicators themselves can be classified according to various criteria. To the greatest extent, the authors of the article draw attention to the idea of dividing food security indicators into direct and indirect ones. Significant attention is paid to the problems of calculating individual indicators and the inevitable inaccuracies that arise in the process of counting. The causes of such inaccuracies are identified and possible ways to eliminate them are proposed. The possibility of wider use of indirect indicators of food security is considered. In particular, the authors recognize the dynamics of alimentary diseases, changes in current life expectancy, and structural changes in the causes of death among the population as one of the significant qualitative indirect indicators of food security. The authors consider an increase in the number of diseases of the digestive system, including among young people and adolescents, to be a negative qualitative indirect indicator of food security. The authors consider the minimization of imported agricultural raw materials processing products as well as the formation of a culture of healthy eating among adolescents and young people as priority areas for ensuring food security.