World food prices reach highest level in more than a decade 

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of a handbasket of food commodities, is up 3.9 per cent from September, rising for a 3rd consecutive month. 

Cereal prices overall increased by 3.2 per cent, with wheat rising five per cent, due to reduced harvests successful large exporting nations, including Canada, Russia and the United States. Prices of each different large cereals besides increased. 

The vegetable oil index went up 9.6 per cent, hitting an all-time high, and dairy roseate by 2.6 points, with increased demand for butter, skimmed milk pulverization and full beverage powder, as buyers try to replenish low stocks. By contrast, cheese prices remained stable. 

For the third consecutive month, the nutrient scale declined, amid reduced purchases of pork products from China, and a crisp diminution in beef from Brazil. Poultry and sheep prices rose.  

After six consecutive monthly increases, sweetener prices also dropped, by 1.8 per cent, amidst constricted planetary request and large surpluses for export.  

Record cereal output 

Compared to past year, planetary cereal production for 2021, is anticipated to summation and scope a caller grounds level, of some 2,793 cardinal tonnes.  

World cereal depletion for 2021/22 is heading towards a 1.7 per cent gain, led by an anticipated summation successful global food consumption of wheat, rising successful tandem with a increasing planetary population.  

Food and climate 

The production, distribution and depletion of all this food, uses astir a 3rd of the world’s total energy, according to a new study launched on Thursday on the sidelines of the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP26) successful Glasgow. 

Feeding the satellite colonisation is also responsible for astir a 3rd of planetary greenhouse state emissions, making it a precedence successful the combat against clime change.  

The report, Renewable vigor for agri-food systems – Towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, shares respective examples of however that tin beryllium accomplished.  

Solar irrigation, for example, can improve entree to water, enabling aggregate cropping cycles and expanding resilience to changing rainfall patterns. 

In India, the usage of star irrigation pumps has raised farmers’ incomes by astatine slightest 50 per cent compared to when rain was the lone option. In Rwanda, smallholder farmers’ yields person grown by astir a third. 

In a video message, FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, argued that the study “shows that determination are galore opportunities to instrumentality renewable vigor solutions crossed agri-food systems.” 

Breaking down silos 

The publication also provides recommendations, including better information postulation to usher renewable vigor investments, improved entree to finance, and a greater absorption connected raising consciousness and gathering capacity. 

Not lone bash a third of agri-food emissions stem from vigor use (fuel for farm machinery for example), that fig grew 20 per cent emergence betwixt 2000 and 2018. 

According to the report, that maturation has been chiefly driven by mechanisation successful Asia, specified as irrigation pumps, workplace machinery, processing instrumentality and inputs specified arsenic fertilisers. 

Energy usage successful Africa, which hosts astir 15 per cent of the planetary population, has remained mostly constant, and lone accounts for astir 4 per cent of the global consumption. 

The study is the effect of a associated effort betwixt FAO and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).