Crop, livestock and food statistics - Methodology

FAO develops and updates methodologies and analytical tools to calculate crop, livestock and food statistics, including feed, stocks and food losses. Methodologies for imputation and quality control of data collected from questionnaires are constantly updated. Methodological documents and analytical tools are developed to validate data on crop, livestock and food statistics and calculate indicators and indexes.

Food balance sheet methodology

A food balance sheet presents a comprehensive picture of the pattern of a country's food supply during a specified reference period. The food balance sheet shows the  availability for human consumption of commodity groups which are standardized in primary equivalent. The total quantity of foodstuffs produced in a country added to the total quantity imported and adjusted to any change in stocks that may have occurred since the beginning of the reference period gives the supply available during that period. The utilisation side, on the other hand, covers export, animal feed, quantities for seeding, losses during storage and transportation, and, above all, the quantities available for human consumption. The per capita supply of each such food item available for human consumption is then obtained by dividing the respective quantity by the related data on the population actually partaking in it. Data on per capita food supplies are expressed in terms of quantity; and by applying appropriate food composition factors for all primary and processed products also in terms of calories, protein and fat content. In the very near future info will also be available on micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).