News archive 2011

A current buildup of locust populations in south-western Madagascar could turn into a plague and seriously endanger the livelihoods of 13 million people unless a new campaign is launched to contain the crop-devouring insects. Some 300 000 ha of locust-infested territory needs to be treated at a cost of $7.6 million.

Higher food prices and volatility in commodity markets are here to stay, according to a new report by the OECD and FAO. The Outlook states that over the coming decade real prices for cereals could average as much as 20 percent higher and those for meats as much as 30 percent higher, compared to 2001-10.

FAO Goodwill Ambassador and Olympic track legend Carl Lewis ended a two-day visit to Haiti today where he saw for himself reforestation efforts to help the country protect itself against flash floods and mudslides as hurricane season begins

The number of people facing severe food shortages is set to increase as the impact of drought, along with high food and fuel prices, continues to grip the Horn of Africa region. High levels of acute malnutrition are widespread and more than eight million people in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are in need of emergency assistance.

A major new initiative announced by FAO is intended to produce more food for a growing world population in an environmentally sustainable way. The new, ecosystems-based approach calls for targeting mainly smallholder farmers in developing countries and draws partly on conservation agriculture techniques, which do away with or minimize ploughing and tilling

An FAO pilot project that has proved a great success in combating desertification is to be rolled out more widely in an attempt to turn African drylands back into fertile land. With two thirds of the African continent now classified as desert or drylands and desertification affecting a quarter of the world's population, the breakthrough has the potential to transform the lives of vulnerable populations.

Cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo show what can be done with urban horticulture in Africa if the right conditions are met. A $10.4 million FAO urban horticulture programme, financed by Belgium and implemented by the DRC's Ministry of Rural Development, is producing 28.6 kilos of vegetables a year for each city-dweller.

Climate change will have major impacts on the availability of water for growing food and on crop productivity in the decades to come, warns a new FAO report. Both the livelihoods of rural communities as well as the food security of city populations are at risk. But the rural poor, who are the most vulnerable, are likely to be disproportionately affected.

High and volatile agricultural commodity prices are likely to prevail for the rest of this year and into 2012 according to FAO's June Food Outlook. The report cites a sharp rundown on inventories and only modest overall production increases for the majority of crops as reasons for continuing strong prices.

Investing in post-harvest technologies to reduce food losses could significantly increase the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new FAO/World Bank report, which estimates the value of post-harvest grain losses in the region at around $4 billion a year.