Results
Briefs
2020
Trade and Sustainable Development Goal 2: Policy options and their trade-offs
With trade recognized as a means of implementation under Agenda 2030, policy-makers will need to ensure that trade, and policies affecting trade and markets, are taken into consideration as part of their efforts to achieve SDG 2. The five targets that set out the level and ambition of SDG 2, as well as trade itself, often constitute distinct competing policy priorities for governments. It is therefore important that policy-makers identify and recognize areas in which difficult tradeoffs may be needed between competing policy objectives, and identify possible ways in which these can be addressed. Furthermore, while the different targets set [...]
Briefs
2020
COVID-19 crisis and support for agrifood: Public sector responses through the financial sector
This policy brief aims to provide useful information for policymakers and other stakeholders in developing countries who are in the process of designing COVID-19 response programmes addressing the needs of agrifood and rural sectors through dedicated rural finance instruments and broader financial sector involvement. The brief discusses emerging patterns on how countries are currently responding to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 crisis. It looks at a number of innovations, good practices and policy options that emerge as most relevant for developing country contexts.
See the full list of policy briefs related to COVID-19
Issue paper
2020
Agricultural extension in transition worldwide. Policies and strategies for reform
This publication contains twelve modules which cover a selection of major reform measures in agricultural extension being promulgated and implemented internationally, such as linking farmers to markets, making advisory services more demand-driven, promoting pluralistic advisory systems, and enhancing the role of advisory services within agricultural innovation systems. The reform issues consider the changing roles of the various public, private and non-governmental providers, and highlights the collaboration required to create synergies for more efficient and effective high quality services responding to the needs and demands of smallholder farmers.The modules draw on reform experiences worldwide and provide an introduction, definitions and a [...]
Case study
2020
Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine in Agricultural Support Policy, Exports of Horticultural Products and Land Consolidation - TCP/UKR/3601
Agriculture is a key sector of the national economy of Ukraine, accounting for approximately one sixth of Gross Domestic product (GDP). The country became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2008, and signed the Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) at the end of 2014. This has led to new export opportunities in the agricultural and food processing sectors. At the same time, new policy approaches, instruments and institutions are needed to support further growth, as well as reforms to make these sectors more effective and competitive. Against this background, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and [...]
Case study
2020
Development of Agricultural Information for Policy - TCP/FIJ/3503 (Phase I) and TCP/FIJ/3701 (Phase II)
Agriculture plays a critical role in Fiji’s development by upholding food and income security, promoting the advancement of communities and offering opportunities in international trade. In 2013, agriculture accounted for 9 percent of Fiji’s GDP, with the industry growing by 3.4 percent thanks largely to increased production of sugarcane, yagona, taro and coconut (according to the FBoS). In 2014, an agricultural statistics unit, headed by a trained statistician, was established in the MoA in an effort to improve data collection and analysis in the agriculture sector. This has led to the implementation of an agricultural survey and, consequentially, the identification [...]
Briefs
2020
Measures for supporting wholesale food markets during COVID-19
Recent COVID-19 outbreaks in wholesale and retail food markets, slaughterhouses and meat processing plants throughout the world underscore the continued importance of rigorous application of COVID-19 health protocols to minimize disruptions to the food system. This brief is focused on wholesale food markets (WFMs) – common facilities that group multiple food businesses involved in the sale of foodstuffs to food business operators. It offers a set of considerations for ways in which local, provincial and national government can collaborate with WFM authorities and food system actors to protect merchants, workers and customers and to slow the spread of COVID-19. In [...]
Report
2020
Food Outlook – Biannual Report on Global Food Markets. COVID-19 Special Edition
Food markets will face many more months of uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, while most markets are braced for a major global economic downturn, the agri-food sector is likely to display more resilience to the crisis than other sectors.Food Outlook is published by the Trade and Markets Division of FAO under Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS). It is a biannual publication focusing on developments affecting global food and feed markets. Each report provides comprehensive assessments and short term forecasts for production, utilization, trade, stocks and prices on a commodity by commodity basis and includes feature articles [...]
Briefs
2020
Why export restrictions should not be a response to COVID-19: Learning lessons from experience with rice in Asia and the Pacific
The spread of COVID-19 has created tremendous uncertainty on a number of fronts, including the availability of food supplies. In such a situation, countries might be prompted to restrict their food exports to ensure greater domestic availability in the short term. However, such restrictions can cause panic, leading to price surges on international markets, and a breakdown of food supply chains. During the food price crisis in 2007–2008, trade restrictions contributed significantly to price spikes for various commodities (45 percent for rice and 30 percent for wheat (Martin & Anderson, 2020). Price volatility led to social unrest in many countries [...]
Briefs
2020
Impacts of coronavirus on food security and nutrition in Asia and the Pacific: Building more resilient food systems
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to food security and nutrition. Economic turmoil caused by the pandemic threatens both economic and physical access to food (FAO, 2019). Declining incomes may make food, particularly nutritious food, less affordable for some, especially the poor. Disruptions to and possible breakdowns of marketing, logistics and trading systems could make food unavailable in some locations at some times. Hunger and malnutrition could rise.This brief will assess the current situation, provide some examples of how governments and other stakeholders are attempting to build more resilient food systems in response, and offer some broad policy recommendations. [...]
Issue paper
2020
Special Report - 2019 FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to the Republic of South Sudan
An FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) visited South Sudan from 15 to 20 December 2019 to estimate the cereal production during 2019 and assess the overall food security situation in the country. The CFSAM reviewed the findings of several Crop Assessment Missions conducted from June to December 2019 at planting and harvest time in different agro‑ecological zones of the country.
