How does food get traded around the world?

Food systems around the world have become highly globalized, meaning that the food we eat often travels long distances before reaching our plates.

For example, a typical supermarket in Scotland might sell bananas from South America, cocoa beans from West Africa, and citrus fruits from southern Europe.

This globalization occurs because countries specialize in producing certain foods based on their climate, resources, and expertise, while importing foods they cannot grow efficiently.

The trade of food between countries is tracked using trade data collected by organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which records exports and imports of various food products.

This data helps us understand the flow of food from producers to consumers across the globe.