Global food security has remained stable during the past year despite the challenges of food price volatility, political unrest, the ongoing European political crisis, and severe drought in the Midwestern U.S. and Eastern Europe. This is according to the 2013 Global Food Security Index (GFSI), released in Santiago, Chile by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

According to the report, the global average food security score remained virtually unchanged in the latest index at 53.5, compared to the previous year’s 53.6. Developing countries made the greatest food security gain in the past year, with countries such as Ethiopia, Botswana, and the Dominican Republic leading the way, based on greater food availability and income growth. High income countries still dominated the top 25% of the index, with the U.S. retaining its top ranking, while Norway and France followed as second and third. The GFSI was developed by the EIU and intends to deepen the dialogue about food security by looking at the core issues of food affordability, availability, and quality across 107 developed and developing countries worldwide. The key findings from this year’s index are the following:

• Overall average food security remained consistent with last year.
• Political conflict reduced food security in troubled countries.
• Falling national incomes weakened food security in some developed countries.
• Urbanization helped to improve food security ini emerging markets.
• Dietary protein consumption increased in 62% of countries in the index.

To view the GFSI website with an interactive visualization of the index results, underlying excel model and findings and methodology report for this study, visit http://foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/. The 2013 Global Food Security Index report is available for free on the EIU website at: http://www.eiu.com/FoodSecurityIndex/.