FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief, No. 41.

Diverse sourcing of food through international trade is a key strategy for building agrifood systems' resilience because it buffers the food supply against shocks and stresses. Enhancing diversity in terms of commodities is also essential for ensuring the supply of food necessary for healthy diets. However, evidence on the diversity of food supply in terms of domestic production, imports and stocks reveal that the potential of international trade is not equally well exploited in all countries. Low-income countries, such as in sub-Saharan Africa, are among those with the lowest diversity of imports as the food supply is mostly determined by what is produced for the domestic market. This brief details policy recommendations for trade openness and country coordination of international trade measures to facilitate trade and enhance its contribution to agrifood systems' resilience.

The findings in this brief have been adapted from the FAO report The State of Food and Agriculture 2021. Making agrifood systems more resilient to shocks and stresses.