A state where a community or household lacks consistent access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life. This can manifest as uncertainty about future food availability, reduced quality of diet, or instances of skipping meals due to resource constraints. For example, a community experiencing frequent drought might face challenges in producing sufficient crops, leading to widespread instances of this condition.
Understanding the patterns and causes of insufficient access to sustenance is vital in human geography for several reasons. It highlights inequalities in resource distribution and its impacts on human well-being. Analyzing spatial variations in its prevalence enables the identification of vulnerable populations and informs the development of targeted interventions. Furthermore, studying its historical context reveals the interplay of environmental factors, economic policies, and social structures that contribute to its persistence.