News archive 2018

New evidence continues to signal that the number of hungry people in the world is growing, reaching 821 million in 2017 or one in every nine people, according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018 released today.

The decision to reaffirm this international political engagement and encourage resource partners to join the fight against the disease came at the global conference: Partnering and investing for a PPR-free world, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and hosted by the European Commission in Brussels.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 167.6 points in August, virtually unchanged from its revised estimate for July and 5.4 percent below its level in August 2017. The FAO Cereal Price Index rose 4.0 percent during the month, with wheat prices rising twice as much.

There is no effective vaccine to protect swine from the disease. And, while the disease poses no direct threat to human health, outbreaks can be devastating with the most virulent forms lethal in 100 percent of infected animals.

Specifically, the new strategic alliance seeks to enhance the quality and impact of investment in food security, nutrition, social protection, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development.

"We firmly believe that if you [the youth] are provided these opportunities, you will not leave the continent to look for opportunities elsewhere. We have the means to provide those opportunities right here where you can see and participate in the future of your countries and the continent", Graziano da Silva said.

"We need to take action to make agriculture more attractive to young people. They must perceive agriculture as a remunerative and profitable sector and the dissemination of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in rural areas play an important role in this regard," Graziano da Silva said.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva, IFAD President Gilbert F. Houngbo, and WFP Executive Director David Beasley, made the commitment as they wrapped up a four-day visit to Niger that included meetings with President Mahamadou Issoufou and Prime Minister Brigi Rafini.

Fall Armyworm could threaten the food security and livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers in Asia as the invasive crop-eating pest is highly likely to spread further from India, with South East Asia and South China most at risk, FAO warned today.

Graziano da Silva stressed the importance of sustainable soil management as an "essential part of the Zero Hunger equation" in a world where more than 815 million people are suffering from hunger and malnutrition.