A Mobile-Centric Conceptual Framework for Food Security Assessment

Food security is a critical research area with significant implications for population well-being and sustainable development. Existing standards, procedures, and methodologies for food security assessment mainly rely on indicators defined at the national level and derived from macro-level data. In this paper, we propose a mobile-based solution that enables real-time assessment of food security through indicators computed at multiple levels, including individual, household, regional, and national scales. The proposed solution models the interaction between food producers, retailers, and consumers, allowing data aggregation and analysis at the national level. Data are collected from heterogeneous sources - such as sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, human input, and open data sources - using diverse formats. These data are normalized and aggregated through a dedicated processing component. Based on these elements, the paper introduces a conceptual architecture that integrates data acquisition, processing, and indicator computation components within a unified mobile-centric framework. The main objective of the proposed architecture is to increase transparency and enhance individual awareness, thereby supporting informed decision-making related to food security.