Reimagining Food Security: From Commodity to Community, What Does It Really Mean?

At Satisfy Food Rescue, we see firsthand the growing need for food in our communities. But what does it really mean to be food secure?

At a glance, food security could seem simple—having enough money to buy food. This definition, though, barely scratches the surface of what it means for people to truly thrive.

Recently, Satisfy attended the Aotearoa Food Rescue Alliance (AFRA) National Hui, where Dr. Madeline Shelling, a brilliant mind in kai security, delivered a keynote address that challenged us to think differently.

Drawing from her PhD research under Te Kupenga Hauora Māori at the University of Auckland, Dr. Shelling made it clear: the Western definition of food security, which focuses on economic access to food as a commodity, misses the mark for many communities.

For many, especially Māori communities, kai security isn’t just about whether you have the money to buy food from a supermarket. It’s about access to fertile land, water, and knowledge. It’s about being part of a living system of hunters, fishers, farmers, and growers who share their resources within the community.

Dr. Shelling’s definition of kai security was powerful and thought provoking: “Kai security requires unimpeded, equitable access to traditional resources, spaces, values, and practices, facilitating the full expression of rangatiratanga and kaitiakitanga across all aspects of the kai system.” In other words, true food security is deeply rooted in cultural practices, collective responsibility, and sustainable, equitable access to the land.

She issued a wero (challenge) to us: how are our current systems, from production to rescue, contributing to or detracting from real kai security for our whānau and communities? How do we ensure that our efforts are leading towards greater rangatiratanga (self-determination) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment)?

This resonated deeply with us because at Satisfy, we’ve always seen food as more than just calories or commodities. It’s part of our responsibility to not just feed people but to consider dignity, and how we can play a role in ensuring that future generations have access to kai in a way that upholds mana and values the whenua (land) and moana (sea) by keeping food out of landfill.

So, let’s have a conversation. What does food security mean to you?

Is it just about having enough to eat, or is it about how that food reaches your plate? What more can we do as a community to ensure food security for all, not just today but in a sustainable way for tomorrow?

We’d love to hear your thoughts - share your ideas with us in the comments below. Together, let’s reimagine what food security could look like for our community.