The FAO led project “Building responsible global value chains for the sustainable production and trade of tropical fruits” (GCP/GLO/022/GER) works with businesses, farmer organizations and other actors in the avocado and pineapple value chains. Our goal is to improve business performance by helping these two value chains be more sustainable and more resilient. The Action Report series provide periodic updates of the project’s activities. This report was published in October...

The October issue of the publication summarizes the salient trends and drivers of market developments and significant public policy changes in 2022. The review finds that the international prices of most dairy products trended downward after reaching near-alltime highs in mid-2022. Additionally, world milk output expanded in 2022 at the slowest pace during the last two decades and international trade in dairy products contracted following nearly two decades of annual...

The October issue of the publication summarizes the salient trends and drivers of market developments and significant public policy changes in 2022. The review finds that a confluence of factors, including sluggish import demand from leading meat importers and rising national production, led international meat prices to trend downwards in the second half of the year, The review also shows that global meat production growth was challenged by disease outbreaks,...

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.

International cereal price trends were mixed in September 2023. Maize prices have increased, reflecting a variety of different factors in the major exporting countries, while wheat prices continued to ease as harvests came to an end in the Northern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, generally subdued import demand slightly lowered international rice prices, amid lingering uncertainties regarding India’s rice export policy and progressively thinning supplies in various exporters. In most countries monitored by...

While many actors contribute to shaping the enabling environment for avocado and pineapple production and trade, governments in producing countries hold a key role in creating conditions that enable and foster sustainability and resilience. This brief highlights non-exhaustive, generic measures that governments may consider when seeking to address challenges and promote the long-term sustainability of avocado and pineapple value chains. The examples presented serve as a benchmark for discussion and...

Cotton plays an important role in the economy of Burkina Faso, accounting for about 4 percent of GDP and 14 percent of export earnings. The COVID 19 pandemic had a strong impact on international cotton supply chains, with confinement measures affecting sales of textiles and apparel as well as international logistics, which in turn affected cotton markets and disturbed trade and international prices. In addition, national cotton supply chains are...

Businesses in the global production and export of avocados and pineapples can play an important role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The tropical fruit sector not only contributes to employment and export revenues but also provides nutritious food. However, if not properly managed, social, environmental and economic risks associated with tropical fruits value chains can have detrimental effects and impede progress towards achieving the SDGs. A proactive approach...

This brief highlights the potential of multistakeholder initiatives to benefit producers and companies by fostering sustainability and resilience within tropical fruit value chains. The tropical fruit sector faces many risks, including pests and diseases becoming resistant to phytosanitary products, hazardous labour practices, deforestation, and vulnerability to external shocks, such as climate change and economic downturns. These risks are too complex for individual actors to effectively address them in isolation. Multistakeholder...

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 July–September 2023.