Out of 186 countries, only Guyana produces enough food to self-sufficiently feed all its citizens without foreign imports, according to new research.

The study, published in Nature Food, investigated how well each country could feed their populations in seven food groups: fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, plant-based protein and starchy staples.

Worldwide, the study found that 65 per cent of countries were overproducing meat and dairy, compared to their own population’s dietary needs.

It also found that Guyana, located in South America, was the only country that could boast total self-sufficiency, while China and Vietnam were close behind, being able to produced enough food in six out of seven food groups.

Just one in seven of the tested countries were judged self-sufficient in five or more categories.

At the same time, there was a global shortfall in nutrient-dense plants, with less than half of countries involved in the study producing enough plant-based protein – such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, nuts and seeds – or starchy carbs, and only 24 per cent growing enough vegetables.

Europe and South America were generally closer to being self-sufficient than other countries. But small island states, countries on the Arabian Peninsula and low-income countries were more likely to rely on foreign imports for food.

And six countries – Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Macao, Qatar and Yemen – did not produce enough of any food group to be considered self-sufficient in that category.

“Low self-sufficiency is not inherently bad,” Dr Jonas Stehl – researcher at Göttingen and first author of the study – told BBC Science Focus. “There are valid and often beneficial reasons why a country may not produce the majority of the food it needs.”

For instance, a country might not have enough rain, good-quality soil or stable temperatures to grow enough food for its population.

Stehl said it could be cost-effective, too, to import food from regions better suited to producing it.

“However, low levels of self-sufficiency can reduce a country’s capability to respond to sudden global food supply shocks such as droughts, wars or export bans,” he said.

To find this out, a team at the University of Göttingen, Germany and the University of Edinburgh, UK measured how much food each country produced.

Then they compared this to what was needed to meet their citizens’ nutritional requirements, according to the World Wildlife Fund’s Livewell diet.

The Livewell diet describes itself as “a flexible diet that involves rebalancing our protein consumption toward plants, eating more vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, and fewer foods high in fat, salt and sugar.”

Debates about the advantages of self-sufficiency have risen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic or the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war – when instability disrupted the reliable supply of food to importing countries.

Stehl added that the “resurgence in interest” in national food self-sufficiency might also reflect broader political shifts, “including growing nationalism and a desire among some to reduce dependence on foreign countries.”

Stehl said: “Building resilient food supply chains is imperative for ensuring public health.”

We produce the global supply of top tier Musang King.

Many kena chopped down suda.

Self sufficient food is important.
Reduce import and keep food price under control

We survived harsh years makan ubi and finding food in the forest.
Plus rice rations makan watery bubur nasi kurang.

Self sufficient food is important.
Reduce import and keep food price under control

We also export a lot of food. What do you think that is? If we can export food, we can also import food.

We export processed foods. We do not export unprocessed foods. Palm oil is not food. Fruits does not count as it is seasonal.

Good example is rice. Local rice is not enough if we did not import from Thailand, Vietnam & India. Crazy isn't it?

We even import bananas which is not seasonal. Coconuts isn't suitable to be primary food. And it is also expensive here.

We do have a lot of sugar. And it shows with the high amount of diabetics in the country. Even then it is slowly replaced with synthetic sugar as it is cheaper.

When i was 2" i remember reading we have enough rice, cocoa, rubber and palm oil. Rubber and cocoa is gone. Rice is not enough to be exported anymore. Palm is only for money and not for the people.

PALM OIL IS NOT FOOD!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! BIGGEST JOKE I HAVE EVER HEARD FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

Palm oil itself isn’t a staple food, but it is a widely used food ingredient.

You can survive by eating rice alone but can't survive by eating palm oil.

That guy above you doesn't know that is is mostly used as a filler, replacement ingredient or cooking in foods. But it is not palatable or consumable by itself.

Palm oil itself isn’t a staple food, but it is a widely used food ingredient.

You can survive by eating rice alone but can't survive by eating palm oil.

More commonly known as Eskimos, the Inuit live mainly in Alaska, Canada and Greenland – incredibly cold climates that are commonly known as arctic (that’s really frickin’ cold!). More importantly for us, their diet is almost completely lacking in carbs of any kind. Not even fruits and vegetables aside from some wild berries in the summer! Naturally, I was incredibly curious about what they eat and how it relates to my perspective on diet and nutrition.

Traditionally speaking, the Inuit live by hunting and fishing. Their sources of food include seal, walrus and even whale. They also eat a lot of wild game including moose, elk, duck, geese, etc. Pretty much their diet is made up of protein and fat and lots of it!

Nobody is saying only eat palm oil alone.

Our body needs essential fatty acids and essential amino acids, things the body cannot make. But there are no such thing as essential carbohydrates.

Eskimos traditionally survive on fats and proteins and almost no carbohydrates.

How The Inuit People Thrive on Almost No Carbs

To achieve food security, we need staple food like Rice, Wheat, Corn and Potatoes. Which might not taste good, but can survive for a long time.

Wonder why everyone laughing at Terrasa Kok drinking palm oil? I don't think anyone will laugh at her if eating rice.

Maybe you can try taking only palm oil for 3 meals for a day, after that let us know how your feeling is.

Every meal you take has some cooking oil in them. Try eating just boiled rice alone for every meal and see what would happen to you.

At least can survive for months. That is why it is call staple food

You try to eat palm oil only for every meal for one day, and tell me what would happen to you.

No worries la. Got bigger ones to replace those.

malaysia useless thats all....no secret about it

Wow. I hope you saved the video.

Wow. I hope you saved the video.

black box liao. what was the video about?

You are the one obsessed with arguing about just taking one kind of food, not me.

Without fats, your body cannot absorb many types of fat soluble vitamins, such as Vit A, D, E and K. Immune systems sure fail. Skin dry like hell. Hormones also cannot be produced.

Prior to the invention of insulin, patients suffering from type-1 diabetes will surely die but they can survive if they eat only fat and protein without any carbohydrates.

I don't know. Hobbez reupload please.