Abstract

Laura Solaroli

The significant increase in world food prices that occurred in 2007-2008 and 2010-2011 had a serious impact on vulnerable populations. The social revolts that erupted in countries in the south of the Mediterranean led to political instability. Soaring prices were considered to be one of the causes of the so-called “Arab Spring”. Food security issues are extremely important in Mediterranean countries (MCs), which are facing complex economic and political changes (CIHEAM, 2012). Assessing food security conditions is a challenging task because of the multidimensional nature and complexity of the issues involved (Maxwell, 1996). The concept of vulnerability, which has been developed in the scientific literature along with food security, is explained in this paper. The research objective is to analyse the different dimensions of food security and highlight the economic issues that determine food security conditions in Mediterranean countries. Subsequently, the aim is to identify appropriate theoretical concepts and methodological tools that can be used to assess food security in a given country (or region), with particular emphasis on the economic dimension.