Food security and food self-sufficiency around the world: A typology of countries

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 7;14(3):e0213448. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213448. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The particularities of agriculture, as a sector which ensures food supply, result from many factors, including the multilateral interaction between the environment and human activity. The extent of human intervention in the food production process is usually measured with the amount of capital expenditure. Therefore, the food production potential and the resulting food security depend on both natural and economic factors. This paper identifies the current status of food security in different countries around the world, considering both aspects (physical and economic availability) combined together. The variables published by FAO were used together with a variable estimated based on the author's own methodology to identify 8 groups of countries characterized by economic development level, net trade in agricultural products, and selected variables related to agriculture and food situation. As shown by this study, the degree to which food security is ensured with domestic supply varies strongly across the globe. Domestic production provides a foundation for food security in wealthy countries, usually located in areas with favorable conditions for agriculture (including North America, Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan) and in countries which, though characterized by a relatively small area of arable land per capita, demonstrate high production intensity (mainly European countries). International trade largely contributes to food security in Middle East and North African countries as well as in selected South American countries which are net importers of food products. The most problematic food situation continues to affect Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture / economics
  • Agriculture / statistics & numerical data
  • Commerce / economics
  • Commerce / statistics & numerical data
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / economics
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / statistics & numerical data
  • Demography / economics
  • Demography / statistics & numerical data
  • Developing Countries / economics
  • Developing Countries / statistics & numerical data
  • Economics / statistics & numerical data
  • Food / economics*
  • Food / statistics & numerical data*
  • Food Supply / economics*
  • Food Supply / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Internationality
  • Social Planning

Grants and funding

This work was provided by the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Poznan University of Life Sciences. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.