Contra-reforma, inestabilidad macroeconómica y autonomía del sistema agroalimentario venezolano durante el periodo 1989-2006

the aim of this paper is to analyze the main effects of counter-reform process and the prevailing economic instability on the caloric foreign dependency of the venezuelan agro-food system case, during the 1989-2006 period. it is supported on a systemic approach, which emphasize the relation of the agro-food system with the economic setting. time series data were constructed based on indicators, in order to measure the performance of food foreign dependency. main results show that a policy oriented to anchor the exchange rate, implemented as part of counter-reform process, has prevailed during the period analyzed, stimulating an exchange rate appreciation which supported a tendency to deteriorate the venezuelan agro-food system？s autonomy, related to previous years. in this context, caloric foreign dependency made evident a decreasing tendency, compared with its performance at the beginning of 1990？s decade, stimulated by improvements in the competitiveness of maize？ food chains. the imported component remains over 40% of consumption and makes evident a close and positive relation with the intake caloric performance.