Final answer:
A severe food shortage affecting a large population at a specific time is known as famine. Famine denotes extreme scarcity of food, while food insecurity refers to unreliable access to sufficient food. Malnutrition and starvation also relate to inadequate nutritional intake but differ in severity and impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
A severe food shortage affecting a large percentage of a population within a given area at a particular time is known as famine. Famine occurs when there is an extreme scarcity of food, leading to widespread hunger and a significant increase in death rates due to starvation. Food insecurity refers to the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. On the other hand, malnutrition is a condition that results from eating a diet in which one or more nutrients are either not enough or are too much, which can lead to health problems. Lastly, starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy intake, below the level needed to maintain an organism's life.
Food stability is vital for ensuring that a population has access to food at all times. Impoverished individuals who face poverty are more likely to suffer from undernutrition, affecting their health and the ability to engage constructively in society. With the world's current trajectory, the United Nations' goal of achieving zero hunger worldwide by 2030 is at risk, showing the urgency of addressing food supply inequalities and poverty-induced food insecurities.