his research paper looks at the crisis in international agricultural markets during the last decade and draws out some lessons. Although crop prices continue to be volatile, the bout of high prices/high volatility ended by 2015. The initial rapid rise of prices was not predicted, and surprised both market players and the international community more broadly. Considerable policy attention was focused on the crisis – by the UN broadly, by...

At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Nepal (MoAC), a joint FAO/WFP Food Security Assessment Mission visited the country from 20 March to 8 April 2007. The overall objective of the assessment was to have a better understanding of chronic and transitory (disaster-affected, shortterm) food insecurity by assessing the 2007 winter cereal crops, current food availability, market access and food utilization situation in the country at...

FAO’s latest forecast for world cereal production in 2007 continues to point to a record output, now put at 2 121 million tonnes. The bulk of the increase is expected in maize but a sharp rise in wheat production and a larger rice crop would also contribute to the record harvest. The record 2007 world cereal production forecast is largely supported by the prospect of an all-time high maize harvest...

Una Misión conjunta FAO/PMA de evaluación de los cultivos y suministro de alimentos visitó Bolivia del 9 al 28 de abril de 2007 a fin de evaluar la producción de cereales y tubérculos de 2007, que fue severamente afectada por una serie de eventos climáticos adversos tales como sequías, heladas e inundaciones, y estimar las necesidades de importación para la campaña comercial 2007/08 (julio/junio). La Misión mantuvo estrecha colaboración con...

A FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission visited Timor-Leste from 17 March to 8 April 2007 to review and analyze the food supply and demand situation in the context of the country’s macro-economic situation, and to forecast import requirements in the light of potential food needs in marketing year 2007/08 (April/March), with particular attention to the needs of the most vulnerable groups. The team also carried out general analysis...

Due to the accentuated drought conditions prevailing during the cropping season, the Government of Lesotho requested FAO and WFP to carry out a Crop and Food Supply Assessment (CFSAM) in order to estimate the 2007 cereal production, assess the overall food availability and forecast import requirements for the coming marketing year 2007/08 (April to March), including food assistance needs. The mission visited the country from 22 April to 5 May...

Zimbabwe experienced severe dry spells and generally unfavourable rainfall during the 2006/07 cropping season, compounding devastating effects of the unprecedented decade-long economic decline. Half-way through the season the Government had declared 2007 as a drought year. Against this backdrop an FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission was invited by the Government to visit the country from 25 April to 18 May 2007 to estimate the 2007 production of the...

Based on FAO’s latest analysis, global expenditures on imported foodstuffs look set to surpass US$400 billion in 2007, almost 5 percent above the record of the previous year. The bulk of the increase can be levelled against rising prices of imported coarse grains and vegetable oils, the commodity groups which feature most heavily in biofuel production. Import bills for these commodities are forecast to rise by as much as 13...