The relationship between trade and the environment is intricate. Trade can improve the allocation of production among countries, with an efficiency-enhancing role in natural resources use. Likewise, open markets can improve access to new technologies that make domestic production processes more cost-efficient and reduce the use of inputs as well as other environmentally harmful substances. However, economic growth due to trade expansion can have a direct impact on the environment...

The Monthly Price Update is an information product provided by the oilseeds desk of the Markets and Trade Division of FAO. It reviews the development of international prices for oilseeds, oils and meals as reflected by FAO’s price indices. In January 2024, the FAO price indices for oilseeds and oilmeals declined month-on-month, while the vegetable oil price index remained virtually unchanged. All three price indices remained below their respective year-earlier...

International wheat and coarse grain prices declined in January 2024 as large seasonal supplies exerted downward pressure on prices. By contrast, the FAO All Rice Price Index increased by 1.2 percent in January, largely reflecting increases in Indica quotations. FAO’s analysis of domestic staple food prices shows that high price levels persisted in December 2023 and January 2024. In most countries, domestic staple food prices remained elevated due to multiple factors,...

The Monthly Price Update is an information product provided by the oilseeds desk of the Markets and Trade Division of FAO. It reviews the development of international prices for oilseeds, oils and meals as reflected by FAO’s price indices. In December 2023, the oilseed and vegetable oil price indices declined marginally compared to November 2023, while the oilmeal price index fell markedly. For 2023 as a whole, all three price...

FAO’s Responsible Business Conduct Quarterly Bulletin (RBC-Q) shares events and resources on FAO’s activities on Responsible Global Value Chains and news from around the world related to business, risk and development in the agricultural sector. It is prepared by FAO’s Markets and Trade Division (EST). This issue of the bulletin covers the period October–December 2023.

In the Gaza Strip, the ongoing conflict has caused the collapse of local livelihood systems and displaced about 1.9 million people. Between December 2023 and February 2024, the entire population (about 2.2 million people) is estimated to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above), including 576 000 people in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). The risk of famine is very high, as the threshold for acute food...

The Tropical Fruits Market Review Preliminary Results is issued on an annual basis to Members and Observers of the Sub-Group on Tropical Fruits of the Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and Tropical Fruits, which is a subsidiary body of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP). This document provides preliminary estimates for the 2023 market situation for the following major tropical fruits: avocado, mango, papaya and pineapple. Statistical tables related to imports...

This note provides a brief overview of the environmental impacts of agriculture, discusses how agricultural policies affect the environment, and identifies policy responses to foster agricultural productivity while reducing the sector’s environmental footprint.

This policy note first examines global trends in the trade of food and agricultural products. Next, it shows how trade and well-functioning markets can address food security issues in each of its dimensions. It then offers solutions on how food security can be guaranteed in the event of trade disruptions and concludes with several recommendations.