A systematic literature review of factors influencing national food self-sufficiency

Global shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have put food self-sufficiency (i.e., the ratio between domestic production and domestic consumption) back on the political agenda in heavily food importing countries. To extract current insights into this key aspect of food security, this study aimed to identify the factors affecting food self-sufficiency and the actors and actions that influence these factors. Our research focused on actors and actions that promote sustainable development and food self-sufficiency. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review on the factors influencing national food self-sufficiency. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 92 scientific studies were identified. Using inductive coding, individual factors, such as climate change, agricultural land, population, plant-based diet, and protectionism, were grouped into external events, agricultural inputs, macroeconomic factors, dietary habits, trade and agricultural policies, urbanization, alternative agricultural production systems, and food waste and losses. Using the approach of multi-actor constellations, we also identified actors and actions that can influence these factors. The findings showed that beyond the responsibility of policymakers to develop institutional frameworks for promoting food self-sufficiency, the intensification of agricultural production and a change in consumer behavior toward a more sustainable diet, among other factors, had a positive impact on food self-sufficiency. However, a closer look revealed that the intensification of agricultural production had adverse impacts on the environment, highlighting the need for a sustainable intensification. Changing consumer behavior toward a plant-based diet was associated with positive impacts on the environment.