Could your country feed the population without global trade? This one can

Food self-sufficiency is a top priority for every country, aimed at ensuring a stable food supply for the population under any circumstances, especially during times of crisis.

To achieve this, it’s essential to secure supply across seven key food categories: fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish and seafood, meat, plant-based proteins, and carbohydrates. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Göttingen (Germany) and the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), published in Nature, identified the country that meets all these criteria.

That country is Guyana. Out of 186 nations analyzed, this South American country, with a population of 826,353, was the only one capable of fully supplying its citizens without relying on external sources. “Only Guyana achieves self-sufficiency for all seven food groups,” reads the report.

Following Guyana are China and Vietnam, which met the standards on six out of the seven categories. The study also noted that one in seven countries achieves self-sufficiency in five or more food groups, with most of these located in Europe and South America.

Regional Disparities in food production

The study also highlighted significant regional disparities in food production. For example, vegetable self-sufficiency is high in Guyana and the Mediterranean region, while northern Europe, South America, and the Caribbean face challenges in this area.

When it comes to fruit production, South America and the Caribbean lead. In terms of fish and seafood, only Russia and countries in the Pacific region are self-sufficient. Meanwhile, 65% of the countries analyzed are able to meet their domestic meat demand.

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