Food security global. A new study, published in Nature Foodmakes the inventory. And the results are far from satisfactory. Indeed, researchers from the University of Göttingen, Germany, and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, have looked into data from theUnited Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) And draw up an alarming observation: a large number of countries have real gaps when it comes to filling the different food groups for their population.
A study based on the results of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
Previous food security research was mainly based on the number of calories. On this point, many countries respond present, by responding to basic needs of their inhabitants. However, for scientists, calorie intake alone is not enough to ensure the food security of a state. This is the reason why this new study also takes into account the seven main food groups, such as dairy productsTHE starchy foods Or, the fruits and vegetables. This is where the rub.
A single small country is completely self -sufficient
For this research, scientists were interested in the ability to production agricole From 186 countries in total, in consideration of the nutritional recommendations of the Livewell regime. It seems that more than a third of the states among the list are unable to be self -sufficient in two or less groups. Only 24 % of countries can ensure national production of vegetables. For the sector of meaton the other hand, the figures are much better, since 64 % of the countries are self -sufficient.
And with us? Europe seems to be doing well in the sector of dairy productswhere it is particularly independent, unlike the countries of sub -Saharan Africa. Finally, the bad students are Macao, Afghanistan and Qatar, who cannot meet any of the needs, in any of the categories. At the top of the list, we find China and Vietnam, which can almost be self -sufficient for all food groups.
Finally, the only country capable of being self -sufficient and Sustent its own population In all groups turns out to be a small state from South America. A little -known country: Guyana. Located on the Atlantic coast, and stuck between Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil, this small country is the one and only to check all the boxes. An unexpected result, since it is a safe bet that few would have thought of this small state. And yet!
Experts point to the fact that economic unions are not sufficient to solve the problem, but also the fact that too many countries are satisfied with a single trading partner. A big mistake, because they could find themselves in a Very precarious food situation and supply of supply There is. Faced with such results, they reaffirm the importance of international cooperation, to have several business partners and to tend towards moreself -sufficiency.
References of the article:
On the planet, only a country could do without the global food trade
Food security alert: this country checks all boxes
