FAO’s first forecast of global wheat production in 2017 points to an above-average output, but down from the record high of 2016, mostly reflecting expectations of reduced crops in North America. COUNTRIES IN NEED OF EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE: FAO estimates that 37 countries, including 28 in Africa, are in need of external assistance for food. Conflicts and weather-related shocks are the main drivers of food insecurity. The food security situation is...

A failed 2016 rainy season has led to extreme drought in the Horn of Africa and a more intense drought than that of 2010 in Somalia. Extreme weather conditions, combined with high food prices, trade disruptions, population displacement and insecurity, are likely to have a very severe impact on the food security of millions of people in Somalia in the coming months. The ongoing food crisis could be exacerbated by...

After three years of conflict and macro-economic collapse, over 100 000 people are facing starvation. About 5 million people, over 40 percent of the population, are estimated to be severely food insecure. Granting unrestricted humanitarian access is crucial to prevent further escalation of famine.

Cereal export prices firmed in January. A drop in plantings and concerns over the impact of unfavourable weather on the 2017 winter crops in the United States of America supported wheat values, while maize prices were mostly underpinned by strong demand. International prices of rice increased, primarily reflecting stronger demand and tighter availabilities of the Basmati variety. In East Africa, cereal prices continued to surge in January to near-record or...

This policy brief provides an overview of the different food security objectives that underlie the use of trade and related policy measures, based on Chapter 3 of the State of Commodity Markets (SOCO) 2016.

Prices of food crops, which depend on unpredictable factors like the weather, are naturally volatile. However, in recent years we have experienced bouts of extreme food price volatility. These can be a thread to world food security. Especially in developing countries, where households spend a large share of income on food items and about two billion people live off small farms, while often not having access to credit, savings, or...

FAO SO4 sets up a FAO ambitious goal to improve market transparency and poverty reduction. The annual citrus bulletin, compiled based on the production and trade survey provided by the member nations, provides unique information on market developments, which contributes to greater market transparency and is widely used by the member governments and citrus growers for decision-making. In particular, given the unique source of information and scope of data coverage,...