Does global food trade close the dietary nutrient gap for the world's poorest nations?
2021
Authors
Ozge Geyik, Michalis Hadjikakou, Baris Karapinar, Brett A. Bryan.
Abstract
Global food trade enables the flow of dietary nutrients between countries. However, little is known about whether trade improves nutrient supply of countries most in need. Using detailed production and bilateral trade data, we found that despite strongly connected global nutrient networks, trade did not substantively improve the nutrient adequacy of most low/lower-middle income countries (~40% of the global population), with particular concerns around vitamin A and B12. Mean imports by low/lower-middle income countries, in adequacy terms, were on average 70% lower than those of upper-middle/high income countries. Many countries with low nutrient adequacy relied upon a few major trade partners with imports dominated by cereals rather than micronutrient-rich food products. Nutrition-sensitive production and trade policies are needed to enhance global nutrition security.
Fig. 4. Nutrient trade flows among income groups. Nutrients are distributed from where the flow is further away from the outer rim towards where it is closer to the outer rim. For example, a larger portion of nutrients moves within the high-income group. It also shows the low trade volume observed by the low and lower-middle income groups. Trade volumes are given for each country in Data S3.
