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The Star
07-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
What happens if food imports and exports between countries suddenly stopped?
Less than half the countries surveyed produce sufficient nuts and seeds. — Pixabay What would happen if food imports and exports between countries suddenly stopped? Researchers have looked at this hypothetical situation to assess the food self-sufficiency of countries around the world. According to their estimates, only one nation would be able to feed its population in seven food categories if this catastrophic scenario were to occur. Published in the journal Nature Food, the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). They used data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to assess the ability of 186 countries to supply themselves with legumes, nuts and seeds, vegetables, fruit, starchy foods, dairy products, meat, and fish. Taking these seven major food categories into account, only one country on the list would be capable of self-sufficiency, ie, capable of providing food for its inhabitants across all seven categories without depending on other countries. This is Guyana, a South American country with a population of around 800,000. Next come China and Vietnam, which would be able to supply themselves with six out of seven food categories. Out of 186 countries, 154 can meet the requirements of two to five of the seven food groups. But overall, the picture is worrying. Only one country in seven is self-sufficient in five or more food groups. Most of these nations are located in Europe and South America. The other countries have low production and depend almost exclusively on a single trading partner for more than half of their imports. 'Low self-sufficiency and overdependence on a few countries for imports threaten their capability to respond to global shocks, particularly for small states,' the report states. Worse still, some countries are unable to achieve self- sufficiency in any of the food groups studied. This is the case in Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Macao, Qatar, and Yemen. Establishing more resilient supply chains This finding is all the more alarming given the recent restrictions imposed by the United States since Donald Trump returned to power in January 2025. 'International food trade and cooperation is essential for healthy and sustainable diets. However, heavy reliance on imports from single countries can leave nations vulnerable. Building resilient food supply chains is imperative for ensuring public health,' cautions the study's first author, Jonas Stehl, a researcher at the University of Göttingen, quoted in a news release. The need for nations to be self-sufficient is also crucial in tackling the climate crisis. While a large majority of European countries overproduce meat and dairy products, demand for these foods is very low in African countries. Less than half of countries produce enough foods such as beans and peas, as well as nuts and seeds, while only a quarter produce enough vegetables to meet domestic demand. 'Climate shocks are reshaping the agriculture sector and will continue to intensify. Open trade and innovation are essential to secure healthy, low-carbon diets,' says study co-author, Alexander Vonderschmidt, PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh's Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems. — AFP Relaxnews
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
There is only one country in this world which can produce all its food
When the world is grappling with the issue of social injustice, poverty, climate change, and growing food insecurity, a new study has revealed a jaw-dropping truth: Only one country on the entire planet Earth can produce all it food it needs to feed its people without relying on imports. A study published in Nature Food and highlighted by Science Focus revealed that out of 186 countries, only Guyana can produce enough food to feed its population across all seven key food groups completely. They are very much capable of producing fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, and even starchy staples. (BBC Science Focus report) Why does this matter? Well, the global food chain is fraying. Between trade wars, climate chaos, and pandemics, any of these shocks again could entirely smack a nation. Yet, Guyana appears buffered. Even countries like Vietnam and China are behind, being able to produce only food in six out of seven food groups, but Guyana is at a solid 7/7. Shockingly enough, less than half of the nations in this study grow enough plant-based protein, and only 25% produce enough vegetables to meet their growing population's demands. This divide is clear; between European and South American nations generally, they are faring better, and they are coming closer towards 'self-sufficiency'. On the other hand, small island states such as the Arabian Peninsula and other low-income countries rely on food that is imported. UAE, Iraq, Qatar, Yemen, and Afghanistan failed to produce enough of any food group to be able to meet the benchmark. Dr. Jonas Stehl, lead author of the study, told BBC Science Focus, 'Low sufficiency is not inherently bad. They are valid and often beneficial reasons as to why a country may not be able to produce the majority of its food. 'Low levels of self-sufficiency can reduce a country's capability to respond to sudden global food supply shocks such as droughts, wars, or export bans,' Stehl said. This renewed focus on food self-sufficiency may also reflect a larger problem, which we might often ignore, as the world continues to navigate its path towards total development, the case of Guyana offers both an inspiration and a stark reminder of the fragility of the global food system. The bigger question is: How soon will other nations act before the next crisis exposes their impairment?
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Just One Nation Produces Enough Food For Itself, Scientists Reveal
Global politics don't feel particularly cooperative at the moment, but which countries could actually feed themselves independently if all international food trade shut down? Just one, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Göttingen in Germany and the University of Edinburgh analyzed food production data from 186 countries. The findings revealed that Guyana is the only country that can be entirely self-sufficient in all seven key food groups that the study focused on. China and Vietnam were the runners-up, producing enough food to meet their populations' needs in six out of the seven categories. Just one in seven countries hits the quota in five or more food groups, while more than a third are self-sufficient in two or fewer groups. Six countries – Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Macau, Qatar, and Yemen – were unable to meet self-sufficiency in any food group. Even zooming out a little, economic unions made up of multiple countries showed similar patterns. The Gulf Cooperation Council in the Middle East, for example, achieves self-sufficiency only in meat, while unions in West Africa and the Caribbean only hit the mark for two groups. No economic union produces enough vegetables to feed its entire population. To fill the gaps and meet the dietary needs of their populations, most countries rely on trade. However, many still depend on a single trade partner for over half their imports, which leaves them especially susceptible to market shocks. Maintaining diverse trade networks between countries and regions is crucial for future food supplies, the team says. Tit-for-tat tariffs probably aren't helping. "International food trade and cooperation is essential for healthy and sustainable diets. However, heavy reliance on imports from single countries can leave nations vulnerable," says Jonas Stehl, developmental economist at the University of Göttingen. "Building resilient food supply chains is imperative for ensuring public health." The research was published in the journal Nature Food. Harvard Paid $27 For a 'Copy' of The Magna Carta. It Turned Out to Be The Real Thing. We're Still Slowly Learning How Polynesian Voyagers Navigated Entire Oceans World's Richest 10% Caused Two-Thirds of Global Heating, Study Finds
