In light of human population growth, global food security is an escalating concern. To meet increasing
demand for food, leading scientists have called for “sustainable intensification”, defined as the process of
enhancing agricultural yields with minimal environmental impact and without expanding the existing
agricultural land base. We argue that this definition is inadequate to merit the term “sustainable”, because
it lacks engagement with established principles that are central to sustainability. Sustainable intensification
is likely to fail in improving food security if it continues to focus narrowly on food production ahead of
other equally or more important variables that influence food security. Sustainable solutions for food security
must be holistic and must address issues such as food accessibility. Wider consideration of issues related
to equitable distribution of food and individual empowerment in the intensification decision process (distributive
and procedural justice) is needed to put meaning back into the term “sustainable intensification”.