Trade and food security in a climate change‐impacted world

Abstract

AbstractToday's climate‐turbulent world is rife with food insecurity—threatening economic development trajectories by stunting growth, subsequently reducing employability and labor productivity, especially for developing countries. The pandemic has exacerbated these adverse effects and reveals the critical need to put in place policies that can safeguard and sustain trade flows in agricultural products. For the vast majority of countries, food security cannot be guaranteed by domestic production alone. If certain crops are domestically untenable or yields are temporarily poor, imports are essential. Additionally, exports of agricultural products provide a major source of income for some of the poorest people around the world. This article explores the interplay between climate change, the production and the trade of agricultural products, and the resulting food security implications. It then examines the existing trade policies governing agricultural trade and provides recommendations for action at the global, regional, and country levels.