A diverse group of people from different regions of the world, each holding a symbol of a key food group (fruits, vegetables, legumes, etc.).

Is the World's Food Supply Enough for a Healthy Diet? New Analysis Reveals Shortfalls and Differences.

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 5 min read.

"A global study reveals that most people still lack access to sufficient quantities of all food groups needed for a healthy life, highlighting the need for complementary investments to increase access to under-consumed food groups, especially in low-income countries."

In an era where food security is a growing concern, ensuring access to nutritious diets remains a significant challenge. A recent global analysis sheds light on the persistent shortfalls and regional disparities in the availability of foods needed for health. This study traces historical and projected changes in global food systems toward alignment with the new Healthy Diet Basket (HDB), used by UN agencies and the World Bank to monitor the cost and affordability of healthy diets worldwide.

The research underscores that the majority of people around the world still lack access to sufficient quantities of all food groups necessary for an active and healthy life. By using the HDB as a standard to measure the adequacy of national, regional, and global supply-demand balances, the study identifies substantial but inconsistent progress toward closer alignment with dietary guidelines. The analysis also points out large global shortfalls in the availability of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, nuts, and seeds, coupled with significant disparities among regions in the use of animal source foods.

Moreover, the study projects that additional investments aimed at reducing chronic hunger would only modestly accelerate improvements in adequacy, particularly in regions where shortfalls are greatest. This reveals a critical need for complementary investments to increase access to under-consumed food groups, especially in low-income countries. The findings call for a re-evaluation of current food system strategies to ensure that nutritious foods are accessible to all, regardless of their geographical location or economic status. This is especially pertinent as climate change and socioeconomic pressures continue to impact food availability and affordability.

What are the Key Findings on Food Availability and Dietary Gaps?

A diverse group of people from different regions of the world, each holding a symbol of a key food group (fruits, vegetables, legumes, etc.).

The global analysis has revealed several key insights into the state of food availability and dietary adequacy. Here's a breakdown of the most important findings:

Despite some progress, significant shortfalls persist in essential food groups, with fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds being the most under-consumed. These foods are crucial for providing essential nutrients and maintaining a balanced diet. There are substantial differences in the consumption of animal source foods across different regions, indicating varying levels of access and dietary habits. The current trajectory of investments aimed at reducing chronic hunger may not be sufficient to address these dietary gaps adequately.

Starchy Staples: Global supplies rose above the target for a balanced diet in the 1960s and 1970s but have not increased since the mid-1980s.
Animal Source Foods: The HDB amount was reached in the 1970s, and the supply has continued to rise, exceeding the target amount.
Oils and Fats: The supply has continued to rise beyond the HDB target, which was reached in the early 2000s.
Fruits and Vegetables: Supplies saw little or no increase in the 1960s and 1970s but have grown sharply since then, especially for vegetables.
Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds: Supplies actually declined through the 1960s and 1970s before stabilizing in the 1980s and 1990s and rising slowly since the 2000s.

In light of these findings, the study emphasizes the need for complementary investments to improve access to under-consumed food groups, particularly in low-income countries. Targeted interventions and policy changes are essential to bridge the dietary gaps and promote healthier eating habits worldwide. Failing to address these disparities could have long-term implications for public health and sustainable development.

The Path Forward: Ensuring Nutritious Diets for All

Addressing the global food supply challenges requires a multifaceted approach that combines increased agricultural investments with policy changes and targeted interventions. The focus must shift towards promoting the availability and accessibility of nutrient-rich foods, especially in regions where dietary gaps are most pronounced. By prioritizing sustainable agriculture practices, reducing food waste, and empowering local communities, we can pave the way for a more equitable and resilient food system. Ultimately, ensuring that everyone has access to a healthy diet is not just a matter of public health but a fundamental step towards achieving global sustainable development goals.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2401.0108,

Title: Global Analysis Reveals Persistent Shortfalls And Regional Differences In Availability Of Foods Needed For Health

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Leah Costlow, Anna Herforth, Timothy B. Sulser, Nicola Cenacchi, William A. Masters

Published: 02-01-2024

Everything You Need To Know

What is the Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) and how is it used in assessing global food supply?

The Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) is a standard used by UN agencies and the World Bank to monitor the cost and affordability of healthy diets worldwide. It serves as a benchmark to measure the adequacy of national, regional, and global supply-demand balances in relation to dietary guidelines. The HDB helps in identifying shortfalls in the availability of essential food groups and assessing progress toward aligning food systems with nutritional needs globally. It doesn't explicitly account for individual variations in dietary requirements, but provides a population-level assessment of food supply adequacy.

What are the major global shortfalls identified in the availability of specific food groups?

The analysis identifies significant global shortfalls in the availability of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. While supplies of starchy staples, animal source foods, oils, and fats have either met or exceeded targets based on the Healthy Diet Basket (HDB), the under-supply of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds poses a challenge to achieving balanced and nutritious diets globally. This indicates a critical need for increased production and accessibility of these nutrient-rich foods.

Besides increasing investments to reduce hunger, what other kinds of investments are needed to improve global dietary adequacy?

Beyond investments aimed at reducing chronic hunger, complementary investments are essential to increase access to under-consumed food groups, especially in low-income countries. The research indicated that only reducing hunger modestly accelerated improvements in adequacy. Prioritizing investments in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds can help address the dietary gaps and promote healthier eating habits worldwide. These investments should focus on sustainable agriculture practices, efficient supply chains, and policies that support the affordability and availability of these nutrient-rich foods.

How do regional disparities affect the consumption of animal-sourced foods, and what does this imply for global food equity?

The study highlights significant disparities among regions in the consumption of animal source foods, suggesting varying levels of access and dietary habits. Some regions may over-consume animal-sourced foods, while others may lack adequate access due to economic or geographical constraints. This implies a need for targeted interventions and policies that promote more equitable distribution of animal-sourced foods, ensuring that all populations have access to a balanced diet. Addressing these disparities is crucial for achieving global food equity and sustainable development goals.

How have the supplies of different food groups changed over time, particularly concerning the Healthy Diet Basket (HDB) targets?

The supplies of different food groups have shown varying trends over time. Starchy staples rose above the HDB target in the 1960s and 1970s but have not increased since the mid-1980s. Animal source foods reached the HDB amount in the 1970s and have continued to rise, exceeding the target. Oils and fats have also surpassed the HDB target. Fruits and vegetables saw little increase initially but have grown sharply since, especially for vegetables. Legumes, nuts, and seeds declined initially before stabilizing and rising slowly since the 2000s. These trends indicate that while some food groups have met or exceeded targets, others require more attention to align with healthy dietary recommendations.