Trade, Globalization and Food Systems Resilience

This topic investigates the complex role of international trade and globalization in shaping food security, nutrition outcomes, and livelihood equity within national and local food systems. For Zambian tertiary students in economics, trade, and development studies, it involves analyzing how trade policies, tariffs, subsidies, and non-tariff measures (like food safety standards) influence the availability, affordability, and quality of food. The curriculum examines the dual nature of trade as both a risk mitigator (diversifying supply sources) and a potential disruptor (exposing countries to external shocks and 'nutrient drain'). Students will assess trade-offs between promoting domestic production of nutritious foods and leveraging comparative advantage, with a specific focus on implications for Zambia as a potential net food importer or exporter. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for future policymakers, trade negotiators, and business leaders to design strategies that enhance the resilience of Zambia's food system, protect vulnerable consumers and producers, and harness trade for sustainable development.