Category: Food supply

Despite being a major agricultural exporter, the US has run an agricultural trade deficit since 2017 and a food trade deficit since 2015, driven by record-high imports. This reflects a complex food system balancing domestic powerhouses like California with crucial international partners providing a wide range of goods year-round.

According to the UN, an estimated 2.33 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023, a significant increase since 2019. The question of whether is food security a growing problem globally is no longer a matter of speculation, but a critical reality demanding urgent attention and systemic solutions.

Globally, commercial agriculture produces over 80% of our food supply, yet many traditional and alternative methods still exist. Understanding the diverse ways we can obtain food is essential for enhancing our food security, sustainability, and connection to the food we eat.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global production of primary crops reached 9.9 billion tonnes in 2023, marking a steady increase. While several nations contribute significantly, a few large countries consistently dominate global food production, driven by a combination of vast land, huge populations, and advanced agricultural techniques.

In early 2025, over 170 million birds globally were culled due to highly pathogenic avian influenza, a primary factor explaining why stores are selling out of eggs. This widespread supply disruption, combined with soaring production costs and changes in consumer demand, has caused significant volatility in the market.

In recent years, the Brazil nut harvest has seen catastrophic declines, with some Amazonian territories reporting up to an 80% reduction in crops. This severe supply issue is the main reason why you can't get Brazil nuts anymore, prompting soaring prices and widespread scarcity.

According to the USDA, imports account for a growing portion of American diets, averaging about one-fifth of all food consumed or marketed in the United States each year. This shift in the nation's food sourcing is driven by a complex mix of factors, including consumer demand, seasonal availability, and cost.

According to the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, Brazil's 2025/26 sugar production is forecasted to reach a record 44.7 million metric tons, yet global prices remain volatile amidst uncertain market dynamics. The question remains whether this production will fully satisfy worldwide demand, or if other factors will lead to localized or global shortages.

According to a February 2025 report from the USDA's Economic Research Service, retail egg prices are projected to increase 41.1% in 2025 due to a persistent shortage. So, why are there no eggs in stores in 2025? The answer is a confluence of factors, primarily the ongoing, widespread avian influenza outbreaks and new state-level cage-free egg laws creating significant supply chain disruptions.

Over four million hamburger patties can be made daily at a single Cargill facility in Fresno, California, for McDonald's. This statistic highlights that McDonald's relies on a vast, specialized network of independent companies to manufacture its burgers, rather than making them in-house.