With agriculture accounting for roughly 70 percent of employment and 30 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in low-income countries, trade in agricultural products has the potential to significantly affect rural employment, incomes and poverty in these countries.

Below-average rains, coupled with high temperatures from mid-July until mid-August, a critical period for crops, affected 8 percent of the average area cultivated in the main season.

There is a high risk of contraction in the production of basic grain crops in Central America because of the intensified "heat wave" in July, affecting the flowering and grain-filling phases of the crops. The maize and bean crops grown for self-consumption are expected to be the most affected, mainly in the areas of the “Dry Corridor”. The extent to which the crops are affected highly depends on the...

Between 10 and 13 December 2017, Trade Ministers gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to participate in the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11). Following the conclusion of the meeting, this brief reports on its outcome, with particular reference to the negotiations on agriculture and fisheries.

Buoyed by rising export availabilities, dairy prices weakened in the second half of 2018. Milk production increased in key producing countries, including New Zealand in the 2018/19 production cycle. Aided by high production in some regions, global butter supplies improved in recent months, while cheese trade expanded in 2018 at a slow pace than in 2017. Trade in Skim Milk Powder (SMP) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP) expanded on ample...

This brief discusses the application of voluntary sustainability standards in agriculture, fisheries and forestry trade.

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 on topical issues. Food Outlook maintains a close synergy with...

Aggregate crop production in 2017/18 is forecast at 5.5 million tonnes, 5 percent below the 2016/17 level. Production prospects for the 2017/18 early season crops are favourable, partially compensating the reduced main season output gathered in October 2017 that was affected by dry weather conditions. The overall cereal deficit for the 2017/18 marketing year (November/October) is forecast at about 652 000 tonnes, well above the previous year’s already high level,...

Poor rains in 2017 affected livestock across the pastoral areas of the Sahel. Persisting insecurity hampers access of animals to the grazing areas in northeastern Nigeria, northern Mali and the Lake Chad Region. Large concentrations of livestock in safe areas are resulting in shortages of pasture and depressed prices of livestock products and incomes for pastoralists. Prices of cereals are generally at high levels as demand is reinforced by the...