Food is a key issue for almost every government in the world, or at least it should be. These days, with the proliferation of ultra-processed foods, it can be difficult for people to distinguish between foods that are more natural and those that are not. On the other hand, some countries are almost entirely dependent on imports; countries like the UK and the US don’t have large agricultural sectors, so they have to import many foods from countries with climates that are conducive to farming. The fact is, a study has shown that there is only one country in the world where all six types of nutrients that humans need can be grown. That country and Guyana.
Guyana is the only country that can be completely self-sufficient in the seven key food groups
The study has revealed that not all countries could produce enough food for their entire population. A meticulous study published in Nature Food analyzed the agricultural production systems of 186 countries, thanks to researchers from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Edinburgh. The result is that only one country manages to cover all the essential food groups for a healthy diet without needing to import a single bite. Guyana is the only country that can be completely self-sufficient in the seven key food groups on which the study focused. The reason? Primarily the local climate.
Seven groupus: fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, plant-based proteins, and starchy staples
The study focused on the foods most important for human survival. The analysis was based on a comparison between each country’s national production and dietary needs according to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Livewell model, considering seven key groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, fish, plant-based proteins, and starchy staples. China and Vietnam ranked second, with sufficient food production to meet their populations’ needs in six of the seven categories.
“Low self-sufficiency and excessive reliance on imports in a few countries threaten the capacity to respond to global crises”
The research findings are striking, as more than a third of countries fail to achieve self-sufficiency in even two of these food groups. Therefore, only one in seven countries achieves self-sufficiency in five or more food groups, while more than a third are self-sufficient in two or fewer. “Low self-sufficiency and excessive reliance on imports in a few countries threaten the capacity to respond to global crises, particularly for small states,” the researchers explain in the study. Six countries (Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Macau, Qatar, and Yemen) did not achieve self-sufficiency in any food group.
Looking at the global food self-sufficiency map reveals troubling regional patterns
Many experts have long warned about the problem of poor nutrition among a large part of society, especially in the northernmost regions of the world. The rise of ultra-processed foods, coupled with a hectic pace of life, has led many people to relegate the importance of food to a secondary concern. Looking at the global food self-sufficiency map reveals troubling regional patterns. On the one hand, Europe and South America are home to the majority of countries that are self-sufficient in at least five food groups.
On the other hand, entire subregions like sub-Saharan Africa show serious deficiencies in meat, dairy, and vegetables. Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Middle East, for example, only achieves self-sufficiency in meat. While 65% of member countries meet their meat needs, only 44% do so for dairy. No economic union produces enough vegetables to feed its entire population. In any case, looking ahead, some better prospects are expected by 2032 in the plant sector: pulses, fruits, and starches.