Feeding the Aging World: The Role of Demographics in Shaping the Global Food Trade

Abstract

The global demographic shift to an ageing society poses challenges for the international food trade. People in different age groups have different dietary preferences, nutritional needs, and income levels, which influence consumer preference and purchasing power. This study examines the impact of global demographic shifts towards silver economies on international food imports using structural gravity analysis. The findings suggest that silver economies will shift consumer preferences to import healthier food, resulting in increased income elasticity of demand for these imports. The primary target markets for healthy food trade are developed countries, particularly Japan, the EU, and the US, where income elasticity is high and remains near or greater than one. Although consumers in developing countries may not prefer healthy foods, their income elasticity for healthy food imports will rise as the elderly population grows.