The simulation framework used for projecting aggregate food availability is based on partial equilibrium recursive models of 66 lower income countries. The country models are synthetic, meaning that the parameters that are used are either cross country estimates or are estimated by other studies. Each country model includes three commodity groups, grains, root crops, and "other".

This paper explores the potential for developing direct measures of household food security that include such components and that are based on an in-depth understanding of the experience of food insecurity at the household level. This process was used successfully to develop the U.S. Food Security Measure.