ABSTRACT
This chapter provides introduction to food security, and how it is related to desalination. This is of particular importance in the context of concerns about sustainability and the food-water-energy nexus, as regions that operate desalination systems often face food security concerns too. Food security is an issue which is appreciated at varying levels of importance globally. Food security depends on four factors: availability, accessibility, utilization and stability. Assessing food security through these factors, it is possible to see variability in different regions and socioeconomic groups, particularly as it relates to accessibility and availability of food for the rural and urban poor. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been dealing with water and food security issues in an increasingly urgent manner. In a region such as the GCC, where fossil fuel resources can contribute significantly to the economy, opportunity costs include long-term energy resources and petrochemical exports.
