Sustainable Economic Circuits for Antioquia's Regional Food Security

Abstract

Written by an agricultural economist, this article proposes a regional economic-circuits model to ensure food security in Antioquia, presenting the Global Food Security Index as a tool for measuring the department's food deficit or surplus. The authors characterize the agri-food specializations of Antioquia's different subregions: the North specialized in dairy, the Nordeste and Occidente in panela, the Oriente in vegetables, the Suroeste in organic coffee, the Bajo Cauca affected by mining-related soil degradation, the Magdalena Medio in extensive cattle ranching, and Urabá in export banana and plantain. The text presents a departmental agri-food balance showing surpluses in dairy and fruit, but deficits in red meat, legumes, vegetables, cereals, and tubers, noting Antioquia's growing dependence on wheat imports.