Guyana, a small nation on the northern coast of South America, is making headlines for a remarkable achievement: it is reportedly the only country in the world that can sustain its population’s food needs without relying on imports.
A recent study published in Nature Food examined 186 countries and found that Guyana alone produces enough food across seven major groups to meet the dietary requirements of its citizens.
This is not a trivial claim—it highlights a rare strength in global food security, and points to strategic investments and natural advantages that Guyana has managed to harness.
The Study and Its Significance
Researchers from the University of Göttingen in Germany and the University of Edinburgh in the UK carried out the study.
They assessed countries based on their ability to produce enough food in seven categories: fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, plant-based protein, and starchy staples.
The results were surprising: Guyana was the only country that met or exceeded the needed production in all seven categories. Most other nations fell short in at least one area, making them vulnerable to supply shocks, trade disruptions, or geopolitical tensions.
This finding has profound implications. In an era of climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, and persistent hunger in many regions, a model of complete food self-sufficiency is rare.
According to the study, many countries are overproducing in non-nutrient-dense categories like meat and dairy, but lacking in vegetable, legume, or staple crop production essential for a balanced diet.
Agriculture Strategy and Government Investment
Guyana’s achievement is not accidental. The government has made aggressive and sustained investments in agriculture, channeling funds into both traditional and non-traditional sectors.
Budgetary allocations to agriculture have increased dramatically in recent years. Part of this drive is linked to regional ambitions under CARICOM’s “Vision 25 by 2025,” which seeks to reduce the Caribbean’s food import bill by 25 percent.
To support livestock, Guyana is even working toward self-sufficiency in animal feed. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that by 2025, the country expects to produce all of its feed locally by cultivating corn and soybeans.
This is a significant milestone, considering that the country used to import tens of millions of dollars’ worth of feed annually. In its broader agricultural plan, Guyana is diversifying.
Its 2024–2025 investment prospectus highlights increase in non-traditional crops such as spices (like ginger and turmeric), and also details infrastructure improvements—like new drying facilities and better roads for farm-to-market access.
Natural Advantages and Sustainable Potential
Part of Guyana’s success lies in its natural endowments. It has vast agricultural lands, a rich biodiversity, and both inland and marine ecosystems that support fisheries.
These resources make it possible to grow a wide variety of crops and to maintain healthy livestock and fish populations, supporting a diversified food system.
Moreover, detailed planning by the government has integrated food security into national development goals.
Guyana’s food systems strategy, outlined in its national pathway for sustainable food systems transformation, acknowledges the country’s abundance of land and capacity to produce staples, legumes, vegetables, fats and oils, as well as foods from animal sources.
Political Recognition and Support
The government and national leadership have celebrated this breakthrough. President Irfaan Ali has publicly praised the farmers and emphasized that the state’s investment in agriculture has paid off.
Highlighting how food self-sufficiency strengthens both economic resilience and national sovereignty, the administration continues to prioritize agriculture in its agenda. At the same time, Guyana’s model is being watched by countries in the Caribbean and beyond.
Its success supports the CARICOM vision of reducing regional dependence on food imports and offers a blueprint for how small countries can leverage their land and policy to achieve food security.
Challenges and Cautions
Despite the celebration, there are caveats to this self-sufficiency claim. The Nature Food study is based on current production versus estimated dietary needs, not necessarily future demands or all possible food categories.
While Guyana’s production covers the seven assessed food groups, that does not mean the country does not import any food items at all. There may still be specialized foods, exotic products, or processed items that are imported.
Furthermore, maintaining such self-sufficiency will require ongoing investment and risk management.
Climate shocks, infrastructure bottlenecks, or changes in domestic demand (for instance, as incomes rise and diets diversify) could test the resilience of Guyana’s food system.
