No. 34 Importance of agriculture and trade policy coherence for agricultural transformation in Africa
08/10/2019
This policy brief is based on the FAO (2018) report “Policy coherence for agricultural transformation in African least developed countries: Aligning agriculture and trade policymaking processes”. The report presents the results of the Multi-partner Programme Support Mechanism (FMM) Project on Trade related capacity development for food security and nutrition in Eastern and Southern Africa, implemented by FAO and focusing on four least developed countries in Africa: Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Crop Prospects and Food Situation - Quarterly Global Report, No. 3, September 2019
19/09/2019
FAO assesses that globally 41 countries, of which 31 in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. Conflicts are the main cause of the high levels of severe food insecurity, while adverse weather conditions have also affected agricultural production, reducing food availability and access.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.115, February 2019
13/09/2019
In January, the FAO price indices for oilseeds and meals remained virtually unchanged. The oilseed index notched up 0.2 points (or 0.2 percent), whereas the meal index shed 0.6 points (or 0.4 percent). While both indices stood just below the level observed in the corresponding month of last year, the meal index fell short by one fifth from the peak recorded in April 2018. Meanwhile, FAO’s price index for vegetable oil appreciated for the second consecutive month (after a protracted decline), gaining 5.4 points or 4.3 percent month-on-month but remaining low relative to recent years.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.122, September 2019
13/09/2019
FAO’s price index for oilseeds continued to fluctuate within a multi-year low range. In August, following two consecutive rises, the index dropped by 3.4 points (or 2.4 percent). The oil meal price index mirrored the downward correction observed for oilseeds, shedding 3.7 points (or 2.4 percent) and marking a 2-year low. By contrast, FAO’s price index for vegetable oils rose markedly in August, gaining 7.5 points (or 5.9 percent) and reaching the highest level since October 2018.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.121, August 2019
13/09/2019
In July, the FAO price index for oilseeds gained 1.4 points (1.0 percent), appreciating for a second consecutive month and marking a 5-month high. By contrast, the oilmeal index fell sharply, dropping by 6.9 points (4.2 percent) and shedding most of the gains registered in June. Meanwhile, the vegetable oils price index recorded a timid recovery of 1 point (0.8 percent), after falling two months in a row. All three indices continued to fare below the corresponding year-earlier levels.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.125, December 2019
13/09/2019
Following a marked rebound in October, FAO’s price index for oilseeds fell by 2.2 points (or 1.5 percent) in November, although its value remained above the level recorded in the corresponding period of last year. Meanwhile, FAO’s oilmeal index remained virtually unchanged, shedding only 0.3 points (or 0.2 percent) month-on-month, whereas the price index for vegetable oils continued rising, gaining as much as 14.2 points (or 10.4 percent), which lifted the index to the highest level since May 2018.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.117, April 2019
13/09/2019
In March, all three FAO price indices trailing the oilseed complex slipped downward. While the indices for oilseeds and oilmeals shed, respectively, 3.2 and 1.9 points (or 2.2 and 1.2 percent) from their February level, the vegetable oil index fell by as much as 5.9 points (or 4.4 percent), thus reversing the upward trend observed during the three preceding months. Although all three indices continued to fare below their respective year-earlier levels, the oilmeal index dropped to its lowest value since September 2017.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.116, March 2019
13/09/2019
In February, FAO’s price index for oilseeds remained virtually unchanged for the second consecutive month. However, the oilmeal index continued its fall, losing another 9 points (or 5.5 percent) to hit its lowest value since October 2017. The price index for vegetable oils, on the other hand, appreciated for a third month in a row, gaining 2.3 points (or 1.8 percent). The three indices tracking the oilseeds complex all fared below their respective year-earlier levels.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.120, July 2019
13/09/2019
In June, FAO’s price index for oilseeds rebounded from the multi-year low registered during the previous month, gaining 6.3 points (or 4.7 percent), while the oilmeals index also strengthened by 8.2 points (or 5.3 percent). By contrast, the vegetable oil index dropped to a 7-month low, shedding 2.0 points (or 1.6 percent). All three indices fared below their year-earlier levels.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.118, May 2019
13/09/2019
In April, FAO’s price indices for oilseeds and oilmeals continued to decline, shedding, respectively, 1.9 and 1.2 points (or 1.4 and 0.8 percent), while the index for vegetable oils notched up 1.1 points (or 0.9 percent). Remaining below their respective year-earlier levels, all three indices lingered around historical lows.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.114, January 2019
13/09/2019
In December, all the FAO price indices trailing the oilseeds complex firmed. The price index for oilseeds appreciated for the fourth successive month, gaining 2.7 points (or 1.9 percent) and approaching the level recorded in the corresponding month of 2017. At the same time, FAO’s price indices for vegetable oils and oilmeals ended their downward trend, posting marginal gains of, respectively, 0.3 and 0.5 points (or 0.2 and 0.4 percent). While the oilmeal index slightly exceeded the level observed in December 2017, the vegetable oil index continued to range around multi-year lows.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.119, June 2019
13/09/2019
In May, FAO’s price index for oilseeds dropped for a fourth consecutive month, shedding 5.3 points (or 3.8 percent) and marking the lowest level since June 2007. The vegetable oil index also fell, losing 1.3 points (or 1.0 percent) and staying at historically low levels. Meanwhile, the oilmeal price index inched up by 0.9 points (or 0.6 percent), yet remaining well below the year-earlier level.
Background Notes on Sustainable, Productive and Resilient Agro-Food Systems: Value chains, human capital, and the 2030 Agenda
13/09/2019
Agricultural production more than tripled between 1960 and 2015, owing in part to productivity-enhancing technologies and a significant expansion in the use of land, water, and other natural resources for agricultural purposes. Today, more than ever, agriculture faces multiple and complex challenges. It has to provide sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet boosting demand by a growing and progressively more prosperous population, and ensure food security for all. Prepared to support the G20 Presidency of Japan and the G20 Agriculture Deputies, these three background notes provide an overview on the following interlinked issues: (i) the policy challenges for strengthening the participation of farmers into modern value chains and promoting value addition, inclusion, sustainability and rural economic growth; (ii) the need for a transformation in the skillset of agricultural workers and a renewed focus on human capital development in agriculture, and (iii) the contribution of agriculture to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2019-2028 - Executive Summary
13/09/2019
The Agricultural Outlook 2019-2028 is a collaborative effort of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It brings together the commodity, policy and country expertise of both organisations as well as input from collaborating member countries to provide an annual assessment of the prospects for the coming decade of national, regional and global agricultural commodity markets. This year's Special Feature will focus on agricultural development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.123, October 2019
13/09/2019
In September, FAO’s price indices for oilseeds and oilmeals recorded modest month-on-month movements: while the former notched up 0.9 points (or 0.7 percent), the latter softened by 0.9 points (or 0.6 percent), marking the lowest level since July 2017. At the same time, the vegetable oil index strengthened for the third consecutive month: at 135.8 points, the index gained 1.8 points (or 1.4 percent) month-on- month, setting a 13-month high.
Oilseeds, Oils and Meals. Monthly Price and Policy Update No.124, November 2019
13/09/2019
October has seen FAO’s price indices for oilseeds and derived products all appreciating month-on- month. The index for oilseeds rose sharply by 6.8 points (or 4.8 percent), marking the highest level since July 2018, while the oilmeal and vegetable oil indices followed suit, gaining, respectively, 2.0 and 0.7 points (or 1.3 or 0.5 percent). The indices for oilseeds and oils stood above their year-earlier levels, whereas the oilmeal index remained subdued, lingering nearly 10 percent below the level of the corresponding month of last year.
No. 33 How can blockchain’s general architecture enhance trade facilitation in agricultural supply chains?
10/09/2019
This brief provides an overview of the potential of distributed ledger technologies to facilitate transactions in agricultural supply chains through enhanced traceability, efficiency, transparency and accountability.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to Mozambique - 9 September 2019
09/09/2019
In response to the impact of two intense tropical cyclones in central and northern provinces and substantial rainfall deficits in southern provinces, the Government of Mozambique requested an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM). The Mission visited the country from 13 to 26 May 2019, with the remit to evaluate cereal production in the 2019 agricultural season , assess the overall food security situation, estimate cereal import requirements in the 2019/20 marketing year (April/March) and determine any food assistance needs.
The Global Economy of Pulses
07/09/2019
The production, trade and consumption of pulses have seen substantial growth over the last fifteen years. This report examines the trends and patterns of this growth, and the factors that explain these for different kinds of pulses. The report presents an analysis of trends of consumption of pulses in different regions of the world and discusses the role that pulses can play in human nutrition. The report presents an analysis of the dynamics of growth of major pulses in different pulse-producing countries of the world. It describes the increasingly important role of trade in the global economy of pulses and presents an analysis of changing patterns of trade. The report argues that there is a pressing need to close the large gap between potential and actual yields, particularly on smallholder farms in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, by increased adoption of improved varieties and modern agronomic practices in all developing countries. This in turn requires a major thrust in agricultural research and extension, improving credit availability, and public investment directed at pulse production. The report discusses future prospects and policy imperatives for sustaining the growth of pulse production.
Special Report - FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to the Syrian Arab Republic - 5 September 2019
05/09/2019
A joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Mission (CFSAM) visited the Syrian Arab Republic between 8 June and 4 July 2019 to estimate crop production and to assess the country’s overall food-security situation. On arrival in the country, the international members of the CFSAM team spent three days in Damascus prior to going to the field. During that time, joined by a small number of national FAO and WFP staff, they held meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MAAR) and several other relevant ministries and state bodies of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic. The team, consisting of national and international staff, then spent three weeks in the field collecting data and observing the agricultural and food-security situation in nine of the country’s 14 governorates. In Hama Governorate the team met national staff from two governorates, Raqqa and Idleb, which it was unable to visit for security reasons, to discuss the situation in those governorates. On return to Damascus the CFSAM team held meetings with the agricultural directors of Quneitra and Sweida, the two remaining governorates that it was unable to visit. The team also discussed its field findings and observations with the principal technical staff of MAAR. Prior to departure from the country, the Mission briefed the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform on its main findings.