(De)globalisation and the fear of trade

While the consequences of globalisation over health and nutrition can be contradictory, trade openness can be a relevant policy for reducing food insecurity. This relatively inexpensive action, when compared to technology or research-based programmes, can increase the availability of nutritional foods, increase higher nutritional variety in diets, and can stabilise the food supply, reducing food shortages. Trade openness may reduce food insecurity, increase social wellbeing and lead to socioeconomic progress.

Furthermore, it would seem that trade openness is a more effective tool than the implementation of specific programmes that attempt to target food insecurity that many times end up doing more harm than good. Ana Cristina Canales argues that from a health and nutrition perspective, opening up to trade seems to be a policy worth trying.

About the author

Ana Cristina Canales Gómez is an ISS graduate who is currently working for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Previously, she worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture in Chile.