A secure food system starts in the field.
Food security requires reliable production, affordable access, functioning markets and the ability to withstand disruption.
Availability is only part of the story.
FAO’s SOFI 2026 report estimates that 645 million people experienced hunger in 2025. Food security also concerns whether people can afford food, obtain it reliably and sustain a healthy diet.
For farmers, this means looking beyond total output to the conditions that support production: access to inputs, workable distribution, resilient land and water management, and a viable income.
Connect production with access.
WFA’s food-security dialogue brings attention to the links between agricultural communities and the institutions shaping supply chains.
Before planting
Seeds, water, inputs and seasonal resources must arrive when decisions are made.
After harvest
Quality, storage and transport influence what reaches consumers and what the farmer earns.
Across borders
Trade relationships and clear procedures help connect surplus production with demand.
Protect the harvest that already exists.
FAO estimates that 13.3% of food was lost between harvest and retail globally in 2023. Its indicator includes losses in handling, storage, transport and processing; it is separate from waste by retailers and consumers.
This makes rural infrastructure central to food-security thinking. Improving the journey from field to market can be as consequential as expanding production.
Food lost before retail
Share of food lost after harvest and before retail
FAO weighted estimates. The global row overlaps the regional rows. This indicator excludes waste at retail and consumption.
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