Leveraging Food Security and Environmental Sustainability in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from a Global Perspective

Abstract

This study investigated the nexus between food security, environmental sustainability, and sustainable growth from a global perspective of 63 economies spanning 2010–2021. Different econometric strategies including the Generalized Method of Moments (GMMs), the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLSs), and the Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLSs) methods were employed to accomplish the investigation. The empirical outcomes indicate that the coefficients of food export, agricultural production, fertilizer consumption, FDI, population growth, and employment are positively and statistically associated with economic growth but have negative relationships with poverty and unemployment, except for population growth and unemployment, which revealed insignificant results. Conversely, the coefficient of food import revealed a positive association with poverty and unemployment but is negatively associated with economic growth. Additionally, the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is also established in the considered countries. Nations, governments, and policymakers must prioritize environmentally friendly economic and green policies that can support sustainable agriculture. International policies to enhance food security collaboration because of nations’ diverse natural endowments to achieve all-level inclusive growth and development must be highly prioritized to reduce global inequality. Innovativeness and the sustainable use of land and processing of food must be encouraged to reduce emissions and other forms of pollution to support eco-fishing, aquaculture, and agriculture in order to ensure food security and achievement of the SDGs.