ABSTRACT
Until the mid-1980s food security was more or less equated with a domestic supply of food sufficient to meet domestic requirements. To allow for distribution inequalities and losses, a 10% margin was often added when the required food supply was calculated. Closing the food gap calculated in this way by taking measures to increase supply was seen as the primary objective. The priorities as regards the policies and instruments needed to achieve this objective have changed over the years in line with the general debate on development policy, albeit with something of a time lag.
