The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Where did the ingredients in that sandwich come from? Our global nutrient tracker tells a complex story

  • Written by Nick William Smith, Research Officer, Riddet Institute, Massey University
Where did the ingredients in that sandwich come from? Our global nutrient tracker tells a complex story

Have you ever looked down at your breakfast, lunch or dinner and considered where the various ingredients travelled from to reach your plate?

A basic sandwich in New Zealand can easily represent five countries: an Australian wheat and Indian sesame seed roll, Danish salami, local lettuce and cheese, seasoned with Vietnamese pepper.

And because your food travels a long way to reach you, so does your nutrition.

Research on global food trade – particularly trade in cereals – has a long history. More recently, researchers have begun considering the nutrients – energy, protein, vitamins, minerals – that move around the world within traded food.

As we learn more about the global trade in nutrients we can build a better picture of how these key dietary ingredients are distributed, and how they affect global population health.

Read more: Five ways to reboot the global food economy to make it healthier for all[1]

Mapping global nutrient trade

The Sustainable Nutrition Initiative[2] undertakes modelling research on the links between global food production and the nutrition of the global population.

Working with researchers at the University of São Paulo and State University of Campinas in Brazil, we have now published a broader analysis[3] of global nutrient trade over time and its impact on health.

It shows the variation in nutrient trade between countries with differing wealth, and some positive links between nutrient trade and health.

Read more: What does a healthy diet look like for me and the planet? It depends where you live[4]

Our team built a large data set of all flows of food for human consumption between 254 countries from 1986 to 2020. From this, we worked out the flows of 48 essential nutrients over that period.

As this is too much information for a single scientific paper, the team built an interactive app[5] to let anyone explore the data.

The paper itself focused on a few key nutrients: protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and B12. These are often used in analyses of food security (having reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food) because of their importance to human health.

Some of these nutrients are under-supplied in many parts of the world, particularly low-income countries. At the same time, nutrient trade over the 35 years we analysed has grown rapidly, as shown in the chart below for vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 trade by country income classification, 1986-2020: H = high-income countries, UM = upper middle-income , LM = lower middle-income, L = low-income, ODU = origin or destination not recorded. Nick William Smith, CC BY-SA[6]

The wealth and nutrient gap

High-income countries were the biggest importers of vitamin B12, but also the other nutrients analysed, largely from trade with other high-income countries. This is despite those countries having only around 15% of the global population.

In contrast, low-income countries have little involvement in global trade of any nutrients. This limits their ability to improve dietary diversity and quality through food from outside their borders.

Most of New Zealand’s trading partners are in the higher-income brackets. Milk and meat dominate New Zealand protein exports, with China the major partner (see chart below).

The quantity of protein exported would meet the needs of nearly seven times New Zealand’s own population. In a country like China, of course, this is only a small fraction of the population.

In contrast, nearly 60% of New Zealand’s protein imports comes from Australia, largely in wheat and wheat products. And New Zealand imports enough protein to meet around half its population’s need.

New Zealand protein exports by country and food group. Nick William Smith, CC BY-SA[7]

We also analysed the socioeconomic, demographic and health outcome data potentially associated with food consumption patterns and nutrient trade.

The findings suggest higher involvement in nutrient trade networks was significantly associated with improvements in infant mortality rates, lower prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age, and greater life expectancy.

Read more: Hunger is increasing worldwide but women bear the brunt of food insecurity[8]

Food security and nutrition

It is concerning to see the low involvement of low-income countries in nutrient trade, particularly given the benefits it can bring for population health.

Our research provides context for how important traded nutrients are in meeting national population requirements. This knowledge can be used to identify weaknesses in the global food system, and which shocks (climatic, political or biological) might have the greatest consequences for nutrition.

These data can then be combined with other knowledge and modelling of food production, distribution and consumption at national levels to give a more complete view of food systems.

Food trade plays a key role in fostering food security and good nutrition. The trade has grown rapidly in both quantity and economic value over the past 35 years. Understanding its importance for healthy nutrition is essential.

References

  1. ^ Five ways to reboot the global food economy to make it healthier for all (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ Sustainable Nutrition Initiative (sustainablenutritioninitiative.com)
  3. ^ broader analysis (doi.org)
  4. ^ What does a healthy diet look like for me and the planet? It depends where you live (theconversation.com)
  5. ^ interactive app (sustainablenutritioninitiative.com)
  6. ^ CC BY-SA (creativecommons.org)
  7. ^ CC BY-SA (creativecommons.org)
  8. ^ Hunger is increasing worldwide but women bear the brunt of food insecurity (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/where-did-the-ingredients-in-that-sandwich-come-from-our-global-nutrient-tracker-tells-a-complex-story-221978

Times Magazine

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Times Features

Duke of Dural to Get Rooftop Bar as New Owners Invest in Venue Upgrade

The Duke of Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, is set for a major uplift under new ownership, following its acquisition by hospitality group Good Beer Company this week. Led by resp...

Prefab’s Second Life: Why Australia’s Backyard Boom Needs a Circular Makeover

The humble granny flat is being reimagined not just as a fix for housing shortages, but as a cornerstone of circular, factory-built architecture. But are our systems ready to s...

Melbourne’s Burglary Boom: Break-Ins Surge Nearly 25%

Victorian homeowners are being warned to act now, as rising break-ins and falling arrest rates paint a worrying picture for suburban safety. Melbourne residents are facing an ...

Exploring the Curriculum at a Modern Junior School in Melbourne

Key Highlights The curriculum at junior schools emphasises whole-person development, catering to children’s physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. It ensures early year...

Distressed by all the bad news? Here’s how to stay informed but still look after yourself

If you’re feeling like the news is particularly bad at the moment, you’re not alone. But many of us can’t look away – and don’t want to. Engaging with news can help us make ...

The Role of Your GP in Creating a Chronic Disease Management Plan That Works

Living with a long-term condition, whether that is diabetes, asthma, arthritis or heart disease, means making hundreds of small decisions every day. You plan your diet against m...