AVAILABILITY OF FOOD
The availability of food within a specific country can be guar- The past several decades have witnessed a major increase in
anteed in two ways: Either by food production in the country it- the integration of the world economy through trade. Many
self or by trade. The first option has been discussed extensively parts of the world have experienced high economic growth in
in the previous chapters. The second option has become more recent years. For example, Asia’s GDP has increased by 9%
and more important (Figure 29), with increasing transport annually between 2004 and 2006, and growth is especially
possibilities and storing capacities and the growing challenges high in China and India. Sub-Saharan Africa experienced 6%
faced by some countries in their domestic production, includ- annual growth in the same period, after a long period of re-
ing because of limitations in available cropland. International cession in many countries. Even countries with a prevalence
trade in agricultural products has expanded more rapidly than of hunger reported some economic growth, although this is
global agricultural GDP (FAO, 2005). not always reflected in social conditions. However, global eco-
Total agricultural
exports (billion USD)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Figure 2: World cereal trade in agriculture has increased steadi-
ly in the past decades. OECD has always been the major net
exporter and Asia has become a major net importer. (Source:
FAOSTAT, 2009).

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