Professor Elliot Berry | Why Food Security is Crucial to the Sustainability of Israel

Food security is a critical issue that extends far beyond simply having enough to eat. As Professor Elliot Berry of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem explains, it is a fundamental determinant of the health, resilience, and cultural evolution of societies. In the face of escalating global crises, Israel must prioritize ensuring food security for all its citizens as a matter of national security.

Professor Berry’s groundbreaking research has illuminated the vital role of nutrition and food access in shaping “sociotypes” – the patterns of human interaction and behavior that define a society. He argues that food security is as essential to progress as the control of fire and development of language were for early human civilizations. Without reliable access to nutritious sustenance, individuals and communities cannot thrive, leading to cascading impacts on physical and mental wellbeing, educational outcomes, economic productivity, and social cohesion.

“A food secure nation is a healthy nation, is a productive nation, is a resilient and sustainable nation,” Berry emphasizes. Yet, alarmingly, nearly a quarter of Israeli children currently live in food-insecure households, with severe disparities across socioeconomic and ethnic lines. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these troubling trends, leaving hundreds of thousands of young Israelis at risk of hunger and malnutrition.

Addressing this crisis requires a comprehensive, coordinated national strategy that recognizes food security as a fundamental human right. Berry urges policymakers to adopt the sociotype framework in public health and medicine, integrating behavioral, social, and biological factors to ensure equitable access to nutritious foods. Rigorous data collection, program evaluation, and long-term investment are essential to build a food system that can withstand emergencies and support the flourishing of all members of Israeli society.

As the world faces the compounding threats of climate change, conflict, and disease, the ability to feed one’s population is not just a moral imperative, but a matter of national security and resilience. Professor Berry’s research powerfully demonstrates that cultivating food security is key to preserving Israel’s vibrant culture, safeguarding public health, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

Nutrition and Food Security as Drivers of Cultural Evolution

The role of food in shaping the development of human societies is a fascinating and often overlooked story. Major advances in civilization, from the transition to sedentary agricultural communities to the rise of complex urban centers, were fundamentally dependent on a reliable food and water supply.

As Professor Berry explains, the control of fire allowed early hominids to leave the trees and transition to a more land-based, social existence. The subsequent domestication of livestock and cultivation of crops during the Neolithic agricultural revolution set the stage for the emergence of the first true settlements and the beginnings of societal organization.

“Food storage and water security were the preconditions for the survival and expansion of these first settlements to create societies and cultures,” Berry notes. Ensuring access to adequate, nutritious sustenance was a crucial driver in the cultural evolution of our species.

Beyond just meeting basic caloric needs, food also plays a vital role in shaping human behavior and interaction patterns, which Berry terms “sociotypes.” An individual’s sociotype encompasses their physical and mental health, relationships, and broader social, economic, and cultural context. Crucially, food security – defined by the accessibility, availability, and utilization of foods – is a key determinant of sociotype development.

“The sociotype acts together with a person’s ‘genotype’ (DNA inherited from parents) to define his or her ‘phenotype’ – that is, observable characteristics and behaviors – which in turn, determine how individuals cope throughout life and further societal culture,” Berry explains.

At the individual level, proper nutrition provides the “metabolic fuel” necessary for physical and cognitive flourishing, especially in the critical early stages of development. At the household level, food accessibility shapes family dynamics and community connections. And at the societal level, the availability of culturally-appropriate, affordable, and healthy foods is essential for promoting overall wellbeing and resilience.

“Together, food security, sociotypes, and culture create a complex adaptive system that helps achieve sustainable development and eradicate hunger,” Berry says. Disruptions to this delicate balance, whether from natural disasters, economic crises, or armed conflicts, can have far-reaching consequences on the social fabric.

The Cascading Impacts of Food Insecurity

The geopolitical upheavals of recent years, from the war in Ukraine to the ongoing effects of climate change, have thrown the issue of global food security into sharp relief. Surging prices, supply chain breakdowns, and economic instability have forced millions around the world to make heart-wrenching choices between “freezing or starving” and “heating or eating.”

These crises have had profound impacts on the sociotypes of affected populations, manifesting in everything from deteriorating physical and mental health to the unraveling of community bonds. Professor Berry’s research has demonstrated how food insecurity can lead to a cascade of negative outcomes, from stunted cognitive development and educational underperformance in children to the rise of stress-related disorders and substance abuse in adults.

“Eating disorders are an example of a culture-bound disease influenced variously by psychological make-up, family dynamics, and the media’s perception of desirable bodies among adolescents, especially in relation to body dysmorphism and pornography,” Berry notes. Such issues can further reinforce cycles of malnutrition and social isolation.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, with the United Nations estimating that the number of people facing acute food insecurity has more than doubled since 2019. In Israel, where an estimated 22% of households were food insecure even before the crisis, the situation has become increasingly dire. A recent survey found that over 30% of Israeli children now live in food-insecure homes, with severe impacts on their physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

“Prolonged political indecision has allowed municipal authorities and the Ministry of Education to play ‘pass the buck’ and blame each other for failure to implement” effective school feeding programs, Berry laments. The lack of coordinated, data-driven policies to ensure access to nutritious foods has left hundreds of thousands of young Israelis vulnerable to the devastating consequences of hunger and malnutrition.

Integrating the Sociotype Framework into Public Health and Policy

To address these systemic challenges, Professor Berry advocates for the urgent adoption of the sociotype framework in public health, medicine, and policymaking. By recognizing the complex, interdependent relationships between individual biology, social determinants, and cultural contexts, this approach can help guide more holistic, effective strategies for promoting food security and overall wellbeing.

“In a medical setting, the holistic management of patients through a bio-psycho-social model would integrate human behavioural trends with social determinants of disease, to improve the management of chronic illness,” Berry explains. “This could be constructive in areas such as obesity management and in controlling pandemics, such as that caused by COVID-19.”

At the national level, embedding the sociotype lens into legislation, program design, and implementation is essential. Berry calls for making the eradication of childhood food insecurity an explicit goal, with robust data collection, independent evaluation, and sustained funding to ensure equitable access to nutritious meals – even during emergencies and school closures.

“Secure food, energy and water supplies have been crucial in establishing centres of civilization. These, in turn, facilitated the creation of region-specific cuisines and food taboos based on local traditions,” Berry observes. Preserving this cultural heritage while adapting to modern challenges requires a nuanced, community-centric approach.

Ultimately, Professor Berry’s research underscores that food security is not just a matter of individual or household-level wellbeing, but a fundamental pillar of national security and resilience. As Israel grapples with the compounding threats of conflict, climate change, and public health crises, cultivating a robust, equitable food system must be a top priority.

“A food secure nation is a healthy nation, is a productive nation, is a resilient and sustainable nation,” Berry affirms. By integrating the sociotype framework into policymaking and public health practices, Israel can chart a path toward a future where no child goes hungry, and all members of society can thrive.

Cultivating Food Security for a Sustainable Future

Professor Elliot Berry’s pioneering work has shed critical light on the vital role of food security in shaping the health, culture, and progress of human societies. In the face of escalating global challenges, his research powerfully demonstrates that ensuring access to nutritious sustenance is not just a moral imperative, but a matter of national security for Israel.

By recognizing food security as a fundamental human right and adopting the sociotype framework in public health and policymaking, Israel can take proactive steps to address the growing crisis of childhood hunger and malnutrition. Rigorous data collection, independent program evaluation, and long-term investment in school feeding initiatives and other food assistance efforts are essential to reach the most vulnerable populations.

Ultimately, Professor Berry’s vision is one of a thriving, resilient Israel, where all citizens have the nutrition they need to reach their full physical, cognitive, and emotional potential. From supporting local food producers to fostering community-based solutions, the path to food security requires a multifaceted, collaborative approach that honors cultural traditions while adapting to modern realities.

“A food secure nation is a healthy nation, is a productive nation, is a resilient and sustainable nation,” Berry affirms. By heeding his call to action, Israel can chart a course toward a future of shared prosperity, where no child is left behind, and the rich tapestry of its society can continue to flourish for generations to come.