In response to a growing demand for high-quality and internationally-comparable statistics, FAO develops, implements and promotes methods and standards to guide national data producers in generating and using sound statistics. In particular, the Organization is committed to provide national statistical systems with internationally recognized definitions, concepts and classifications as well as methodological guidance for the production of high quality statistics related to food and agriculture.
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Abstract: Malnutrition is pervasive in both low- and middle-income countries. Yet, there is a scarcity of food intake data collected at the individual level to describe diets, determine the prevalence of inadequate nutrient consumption in populations, and shed light on how diets contribute to the malnutrition burden. In the absence of nationally representative individual-level food intake surveys, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, dietary data collected in household consumption and expenditure surveys (HCES) are being used as a second-best option to make inferences on the food and nutrient consumption of populations. This paper proposes an innovative approach to estimate variability in nutrient intake that uses food data collected in HCES to estimate the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy in a country. This method builds on the approach developed by FAO to estimate the indicator of inequality used in the Prevalence of Undernourishment used in the global monitoring of food insecurity.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This paper is part of a series detailing new methodologies for estimating key components of agri-food systems emissions, with a view to disseminate the information in FAOSTAT. It describes methods for estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel-based energy use in agri-food systems processes outside agricultural land, i.e. those associated with pre- and post-production activities – in an effort to inform countries of the environmental impacts of agri-food systems and the possible options to reduce them.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This paper is part of a series detailing novel methodologies for estimating key components of food systems emissions, with a view to disseminate the information in FAOSTAT. It provides a methodology for estimating the GHG emissions associated with emissions from waste in the food system (e.g., food-related processes in landfills, incineration, wastewater management processes), in an effort to inform countries of the environmental impacts and possible options to reduce them.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This paper is the first in a series of ongoing and planned efforts to build on current knowledge and develop methodologies for estimating new components of food systems emissions, with a view to disseminate the information in FAOSTAT. It provides a methodology for estimating the GHG emissions associated with historic and current domestic food transport, in an effort to inform countries of the environmental impact of their food distribution systems. Our efforts respond to the call of the upcoming Food Systems Summit to characterize the role of food and agriculture to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, they align well with Goal 12 to ensure “sustainable consumption and production patterns’’, specifically Target 12.2, “achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources” and Indicator 12.2.1, which monitors the “material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP” of different products. Last updated date 20/09/2021, see corrigendum
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: The reduction of agricultural losses, especially among smallholder farmers, should be an essential component of food security strategies in developing countries. Loss reduction strategies should be informed by evidence on optimal loss levels, or the point below which loss reduction efforts become economically unviable, characterized by reduction costs greater than benefits. Information on minimum losses can help provide a benchmark for farm management, formulation of policies, and investment decisions. This study connects information on minimum losses with farming practices or production technologies, to help in assessing the effectiveness of loss reduction practices and of the underlying policies and incentives that promote them. While most empirical research and data collection activities on losses tend to focus on average losses, this paper provides evidence on minimum losses levels for several commodities and regions of the world.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: Little research has been conducted on the association of food insecurity, particularly at the moderate level, and dietary consumption in low- and middle-income countries. This study expands on previous works by considering cross-country comparable measures of food insecurity that are calibrated against the global Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). The FAO Statistics Division has been publishing estimates of the prevalence of food insecurity, based on the FIES, since 2017. The FIES is the first standardized measure, of people's direct experiences of food insecurity, appropriate for application on a global scale. The prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity based on the FIES is one of the official SDG indicators (2.1.2). The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between the severity of food insecurity, as measured with the FIES (or an analogous experience-based food insecurity scale calibrated to the global reference scale), and dietary intake using microdata from four middle-income countries from different world regions: Kenya, Mexico, Samoa, and Sudan.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the endorsed methodology of the indicator by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG indicators (IAEG-SDG). Importantly, it provides a protocol for the collection of the required data via a dedicated survey questionnaire.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This FAO Statistics working paper presents a new methodological approach aimed at measuring progress towards sustainable agriculture in countries and across agri-food systems typologies, by measuring socio-economic and environmental dimensions with available national statistics, with sixteen indicators defined and constructed from FAOSTAT data. A trend analysis is carried out at country level over the time series 1961-2018, with country results aggregated by four agri-food systems typologies: traditional; land-intensive and capital-intensive mixed systems; and modern food systems. The analysis provides a novel framework for the analysis of progress in achieving sustainable agriculture by country and agri-food system type, that can be implemented effectively and allows for exploring solutions across development pathways.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: This document is part of the FAO Statistics working paper series and part of the series of operational guidelines of the FAO Survey Team providing practical cost effective orientations to countries on agricultural surveys from the conception and implementation to data dissemination. The present document is focused on operational clarifications on the definitions of agricultural holdings and operational guidance for establishing lists of agricultural holdings for agricultural surveys.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
Abstract: One of the main pillars of food security is food supply, which refers to the availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality, supplied through domestic production or imports. In this paper, we use quantities of commercialized foods from the Supply and Utilization Accounts (SUA) compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to analyze trends in food available for consumption based on by region and country income level group. Results show that, in general, food groups available for consumption differ across income-level country groups. There are nonetheless evident regional trends. Low-income and lower-middle-income countries have a high reliance on staple foods, and only upper-middle-income countries and Asia have enough fruits and vegetables available to meet the FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of consuming a minimum of 400 grams per day. In addition, the availability of animal-source foods, as well as sugars and fats, overall is highest in high-income countries, but it is increasing fast in upper-middle-income countries. This document is part of FAO Statistics Working Paper Series.
Lead authoring unit/office: Statistics Division (ESS)
