Societal security and emergency preparedness concern our collective capacity to prevent and manage events that threaten life, health, and fundamental societal functions. Among these, food security is of central importance.

Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is a basic human need and a critical prerequisite for a resilient society. According to FAO – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

Food security consists of four dimensions:

• availability of food
• access through adequate economic and social resources
• utilization that ensures good nutrition and health
• stability over time, so that the population is not at risk of losing access in the event of crises or shocks

This makes food security both an objective in itself and an important political governance tool.

Today, Norwegian food security is challenged by climate change, geopolitical tensions, unpredictable prices, and risks linked to food and water supply. At the same time, vulnerability is reinforced by structural changes in agriculture, a decline in the number of farms, and rural depopulation. These developments affect production capacity, settlement patterns, and preparedness alike.

Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration. NTNU’s interdisciplinary research team Food Security works to develop research, projects, and partnerships that strengthen national expertise and society’s capacity to ensure a safe and stable food supply in the future.