Can America feed itself?

Yes, the U.S. produces enough food calories to feed itself, even exporting food, but it relies on imports for variety (like many fruits, veggies, coffee, spices) and faces systemic issues like labor shortages, consolidation, and trade policies that challenge true self-sufficiency, making the food system vulnerable despite ample production capacity.

Can America feed itself without imports?

The U.S. produces plenty of grains, oils, sweeteners, and meat, but far less fresh produce and legumes; in recent years, the country has become a net importer of food. “The food group that we produce the least of to meet our dietary needs is fruits and vegetables,” Conrad said.

Which countries can feed themselves?

A 2025 study published in the journal Nature Food found that Guyana is the only country among 186 nations surveyed that can fully feed its population with domestically produced food across all major food groups. This makes it the sole nation technically capable of meeting its entire nutritional needs without imports.

Which states could feed themselves?

These 15 states have the right mix of economy and local resources to survive solo.

• Utah's Strong and Steady Economy. ...
• Texas's Energy Powerhouse With Limits. ...
• Washington's Hydropower Advantage. ...
• Colorado's Balanced Growth. ...
• Minnesota's Mix of Health and Industry. ...
• Florida's Tourism Engine. ...
• South Dakota's Low-Unemployment Strength.

Can the US survive on its own oil?

The U.S. can produce significant amounts of oil, but struggles with true self-sufficiency due to mismatched refinery capacity (producing light sweet oil while needing heavy sour crude), leading to high imports and exports simultaneously; a shift to renewables or massive refinery upgrades would be needed for complete oil independence, as current global market dynamics and infrastructure still tie the U.S. to international supply and demand, making it vulnerable to price shocks despite high domestic production.
 

Why The U.S. Isn’t Growing Enough Food

Who owned 90% of the oil industry?

John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil company owned around 90% of the U.S. oil refining and production by the late 1880s, creating a massive monopoly that dominated the American market and significantly influenced the global industry, becoming one of the world's first true trusts. This dominance was achieved through aggressive business tactics, vertical integration, and strategic control over refineries and pipelines. 

What country owns 18% of the world's oil?

Venezuela owns roughly 18% (or about one-fifth) of the world's proven oil reserves, holding the largest share globally with over 300 billion barrels, far exceeding other nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, according to data from OPEC and other sources as of recent years.
 

Can you legally live off the grid in the US?

Yes — you can legally live off the grid in the United States, but success depends on compliance with local zoning, building codes, water and waste regulations, and power system requirements.

What would be the hardest US state to invade?

The hardest U.S. states to invade are generally considered to be Alaska, due to its vast, icy wilderness, extreme cold, and strategic military presence, and mountainous, heavily forested states like West Virginia or parts of the Appalachian region, where terrain and dense woods favor guerrilla warfare and ambushes. Other contenders include Washington, with its challenging terrain and choke points like the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Hawaii, due to its isolation and dependence on sea/air supply lines, making it a logistical nightmare for invaders. 

What state is #1 in food insecurity?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data for 2021-2023, Arkansas has the highest rate of food insecurity in the U.S., at nearly 19%, while Texas leads in the sheer number of food-insecure households, and Mississippi has a high percentage of "very low food security" households. Other states consistently ranking high include Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.
 

Where does the USA rank in food safety?

The U.S. food safety ranking varies by report, but recent data from the Economist's Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022 placed the U.S. 13th overall, though it ranked 3rd for the specific Quality & Safety metric, behind countries like Canada and Denmark, while the FDA highlights significant improvements and near-top global rankings in food safety mechanisms. U.S. confidence in food safety has recently dropped, citing concerns over profit prioritization and regulation, despite overall strong safety performance in specific metrics. 

What country can survive on its own?

That nation is Guyana. Researchers looked at food production data from 186 countries and found that Guyana is the only one that produces enough of all seven key food groups for its own population. China and Vietnam came close, each meeting their own needs in six of the seven categories.

Is Russia food self-sufficient?

Russia is completely self-sufficient in staple foods: grain and products of its processing, meat and fish products, sugar, oil, and other key foods.

Who produces 70% of the world's food?

“With over 70% of the world's food production reliant on family farmers, this type of farming represents the vast majority of agriculture worldwide, both in developed and developing countries.

What is almost 90% of US farms owned by?

Almost 90% (actually around 95-97%) of U.S. farms are family-owned, meaning they are operated by individuals, families, or family corporations, not large non-family corporations, with these family farms responsible for the vast majority of agricultural output, though the largest ones produce the bulk of certain commodities, notes data from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and the American Farm Bureau Federation. 

What percent of US food is imported?

Direct imports accounted for 15 percent of total U.S. food and beverage purchases in 2023, and the remaining 85 percent was produced by the domestic supply chain. Of the domestically produced portion, 4 percent covered the cost of embedded imports.

What is the unsafest state to live in?

WASHINGTON – Wallethub has released its 2025 list of the safest states in the U.S., placing Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire at the top of the list. Maine and Utah were the fourth and fifth safest states. The least safe states were Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Arkansas.

Who are the U.S.'s biggest enemies?

The biggest perceived enemies of the U.S., according to recent public opinion polls and government assessments, are China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, often cited together as key adversaries, with China frequently topping Americans' lists, followed by Russia, while government reports highlight China and Russia as critical threats to infrastructure and interests, alongside Iran. These nations are seen as threats due to military power, economic influence, cyber capabilities, and support for aggression or terrorism, with perceptions shifting over time and varying by political affiliation. 

What is the most feared country in war?

Afghanistan continues to hold the position as the most dangerous country in the world. Persistent terrorism, rampant political instability, and large-scale displacement have left the nation in a state of severe unrest and a highly dangerous place.

Do you still have to pay taxes if you live off the grid?

Here are a few misconceptions:- You don't pay taxes or bills: Even off- grid, property taxes, land maintenance, and other costs still apply.

Can you still claim free land in the United States?

Are any lands available free through homesteading? No. Congress repealed the Homestead Act in 1976 (except for Alaska, where it was repealed in 1986). Fair market value is determined for each parcel that is offered.

Who owns the grid in the USA?

The US grid is a complex network of more than 7,300 power plants and transformers connected by more than 160,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and serves 145 million customers. In most countries, they are state owned but in the US, the grid is nearly all privately owned.

Who has the most untouched oil?

Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, followed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Canada, but much of Venezuela's immense potential (especially in the Orinoco Belt) remains untapped due to sanctions, underinvestment, and political instability, making it the country with the most untapped oil, though the U.S. also has massive untapped shale resources.
 

Why isn't Venezuela rich?

Political corruption, chronic shortages of food and medicine, closure of businesses, unemployment, deterioration of productivity, authoritarianism, human rights violations, gross economic mismanagement and high dependence on oil have contributed to the crisis.

Who has more oil, Texas or Alaska?

No, Texas produces significantly more oil than Alaska and also holds far greater proven oil reserves, consistently ranking as the #1 oil-producing state in the U.S., while Alaska typically ranks around fifth or sixth despite its vast potential reserves, with Texas's output often dwarfing that of all other states combined. Texas's production benefits from massive fields like the Permian Basin and extensive infrastructure, whereas Alaska's output has declined from its peak but remains substantial, notes World Population Review and Statista.