Food insecurity remains a major challenge worldwide with an uneven distribution towards developing countries. Persistent food insecurity is a cause of concern as lack of adequate consumption of food has long-term implications for both individuals and societies. As population growth, rising incomes, and rapid urbanization increase the pressure on agriculture via pressure on land and demand for food, food insecurity will remain a challenge requiring effective policy interventions in near future. This dissertation investigated the potential means through which food insecurity can be alleviated. In addition to a background chapter examining long term patterns of undernourishment and future threats to global food security, three empirical chapters examined the implications of foreign direct investment in agriculture for food security in the host country, how integration to markets affects the food security status of smallholder producers in Tanzania using data from Tanzania National Panel Survey 2014-15, and effect of women's empowerment on child nutrition based on data from Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) 2015. The findings of this dissertation show that mainstream policy approaches (i.e, increased FDI or more market oriented agriculture) do not always benefit the most vulnerable. Alleviating food insecurity requires a better understanding of complex social, economic and cultural factors and more inclusive policies. Transformation of food production systems and empowering the most vulnerable populations are inevitable to ensure global food security.