This paper examines whether there is increased inter-year instability in food consumption at the national level, and to what extent this is attributable to increased instability of food roduction in the wake of adoption of modern a ricultural techno P ogy. The data analysed increased fluctuations in consumption. Nevertheless, year-to-year consumption variability among the sample of 38 countries has declined during the past 25 years. This is attributed to improved stocking operations and trade practices which accompany economic growth. Nevertheless, food insecurity, as measured in terms of fluctuations around trend levels of consum tion, does remain a problem, especially among the poor. TherePore, policy options to reduce consumption instability are outlined.indicates that increase L f production instability does translate into .