This policy brief is based on the FAO (2018) report “Policy coherence for agricultural transformation in African least developed countries: Aligning agriculture and trade policymaking processes”. The report presents the results of the Multi-partner Programme Support Mechanism (FMM) Project on Trade related capacity development for food security and nutrition in Eastern and Southern Africa, implemented by FAO and focusing on four least developed countries in Africa: Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and...

FAO assesses that globally 41 countries, of which 31 in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. Conflicts are the main cause of the high levels of severe food insecurity, while adverse weather conditions have also affected agricultural production, reducing food availability and access.

Agricultural production more than tripled between 1960 and 2015, owing in part to productivity-enhancing technologies and a significant expansion in the use of land, water, and other natural resources for agricultural purposes. Today, more than ever, agriculture faces multiple and complex challenges. It has to provide sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet boosting demand by a growing and progressively more prosperous population, and ensure food security for all. Prepared...

The Agricultural Outlook 2019-2028 is a collaborative effort of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It brings together the commodity, policy and country expertise of both organisations as well as input from collaborating member countries to provide an annual assessment of the prospects for the coming decade of national, regional and global agricultural commodity markets. This year's...

Following a marked rebound in October, FAO’s price index for oilseeds fell by 2.2 points (or 1.5 percent) in November, although its value remained above the level recorded in the corresponding period of last year. Meanwhile, FAO’s oilmeal index remained virtually unchanged, shedding only 0.3 points (or 0.2 percent) month-on-month, whereas the price index for vegetable oils continued rising, gaining as much as 14.2 points (or 10.4 percent), which lifted...

October has seen FAO’s price indices for oilseeds and derived products all appreciating month-on- month. The index for oilseeds rose sharply by 6.8 points (or 4.8 percent), marking the highest level since July 2018, while the oilmeal and vegetable oil indices followed suit, gaining, respectively, 2.0 and 0.7 points (or 1.3 or 0.5 percent). The indices for oilseeds and oils stood above their year-earlier levels, whereas the oilmeal index remained...

In September, FAO’s price indices for oilseeds and oilmeals recorded modest month-on-month movements: while the former notched up 0.9 points (or 0.7 percent), the latter softened by 0.9 points (or 0.6 percent), marking the lowest level since July 2017. At the same time, the vegetable oil index strengthened for the third consecutive month: at 135.8 points, the index gained 1.8 points (or 1.4 percent) month-on- month, setting a 13-month high....

FAO’s price index for oilseeds continued to fluctuate within a multi-year low range. In August, following two consecutive rises, the index dropped by 3.4 points (or 2.4 percent). The oil meal price index mirrored the downward correction observed for oilseeds, shedding 3.7 points (or 2.4 percent) and marking a 2-year low. By contrast, FAO’s price index for vegetable oils rose markedly in August, gaining 7.5 points (or 5.9 percent) and...

In July, the FAO price index for oilseeds gained 1.4 points (1.0 percent), appreciating for a second consecutive month and marking a 5-month high. By contrast, the oilmeal index fell sharply, dropping by 6.9 points (4.2 percent) and shedding most of the gains registered in June. Meanwhile, the vegetable oils price index recorded a timid recovery of 1 point (0.8 percent), after falling two months in a row. All three...

In June, FAO’s price index for oilseeds rebounded from the multi-year low registered during the previous month, gaining 6.3 points (or 4.7 percent), while the oilmeals index also strengthened by 8.2 points (or 5.3 percent). By contrast, the vegetable oil index dropped to a 7-month low, shedding 2.0 points (or 1.6 percent). All three indices fared below their year-earlier levels.