This week the UN released its latest findings on the extent of world hunger. The report – marking World Food Day 2009 and its theme - "Achieving food security in times of crisis" - makes for grim reading... Food security is becoming a strategic issue for states. Agribusiness and a number of other industry sectors are clearly key players in this space. But a broader set of issues involving corporate use and management of natural resources – water and land in particular – are also directly linked to food security as can be seen in growing attention to issues such as "land grabbing" involving public and private actors. So on this World Food Day, it seems a useful moment to take stock of the private sector role in food security strategies and consider some of the human rights implications for efforts to address hunger and food insecurity. [refers to Chevron, DSM, Heinz, Kraft Foods, Unilever]