“FOOD SECURITY OUTCOMES IN UZBEKISTAN: AFFORDABILITY, DIET QUALITY, AND FOOD PRODUCT SAFETY”

Abstract

This paper assesses food security outcomes in Uzbekistan—specifically, food access, diet quality, and food safety systems—based on secondary data from official statistics, international reports, and policy documents. The analysis links household income and farm structure to food availability and affordability, and examines how food security governance and value chain capacities affect consumer risk. Evidence suggests that hunger has declined and the country’s ranking in the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) has improved. However, rural micronutrient deficiencies, income volatility, import dependence for some commodities and resources, and limited storage and processing infrastructure continue to undermine sustainable food security. The thesis highlights the need to address gaps in preventive food safety capacity and inspection guidelines, strengthen targeted nutrition measures, strengthen food safety management, and increase investment in cold storage, processing, and logistics infrastructure.