Evaluating the spatial spillover effects of political stability and agricultural foreign direct investment on food security

Despite significant economic progress, the lack of regular access to adequate and nutritious food remains one of the most pressing challenges in today’s world, particularly in developing countries. This study investigates the spatial effect of political stability and agricultural foreign direct investment (FDI) on food security in 43 developing countries using the spatial Durbin model based on balanced panel data from 2005 to 2020. . Our findings indicate that agricultural FDI significantly enhanced food security within the host country and neighboring countries. Equally significant is the impact of political stability on food security locally and in nearby countries. Interestingly, the interaction between political stability and agricultural FDI is also positive and significantly affects food security in the given country and its adjacent countries. We advocate for policies that promote political stabilityand bolster FDI in agriculture, given their substantial contributions to improving food security at the regional level.