Food Secure Islands : An Analysis of the Food Security Challenges in Small Island Developing States in View of Climate Change

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to give an overview of the situation of small island developing states and to identify key factors of their food security particularly in the context of climate change. Findings include that small islands inherently are in a different and more challenging situation attributable to limited natural resources and a lack of flexibility when it comes to using these resources. Such abiotic resources as land and fresh water are subject to both depletion by humans and the impacts of climate change, and coping capabilities of small island states are narrow as they have very little range of alternative possibilities. However, with adequate preparedness strategies the severe impacts on food security might be able to be mitigated or in some cases even prevented. These countries need to be addressed separately from other developing states, as their situation is special. On a policy level, local food production must be focussed on to reduce the dependency on food importation.