The ingredients of your dinner tonight have been on a journey that may have spanned thousands of miles, crossing oceans and continents before finally arriving on your plate. Food Twin, an interactive digital map created by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and the nonprofit Earth Genome, offers a groundbreaking way to see that journey visualized. By combining agricultural production data, trade flows, transportation networks, and nutritional metrics, Food Twin reveals the global trade routes used for transporting food produce around the world.
A Global Map of What Feeds Us
Click on the Food Twin map and you can instantly see the types and quantities of food groups exported from the selected area - while the map sidebar provides detailed information on the food types exported and the export destinations.
The map uses advanced modeling from CU Boulder’s Better Planet Laboratory, Food Twin to chart the flow of food from farms to consumers in over 3,700 states and provinces across 240 countries. It goes beyond showing where crops are grown - it also calculates the calories, protein, and essential nutrients traveling through global trade routes.
Why This Matters for the Future
The data behind Food Twin isn’t just fascinating, it may also prove vital in preparing for changing climate. The map makes it possible to model how floods, droughts, and heatwaves could disrupt food supply chains. For example, if a natural disaster affects one region of a country the map can help identify which communities around the world would feel the impact first. It is hoped that as extreme weather events become more common, policymakers and researchers can use Food Twin to anticipate disruptions and design safety nets to protect and feed vulnerable populations.
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