Black Sea grain deal extended
18/3/2023: The UN has announced that a deal allowing for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports had been extended, on the day it was due to expire. Since July last year the agreement has helped bring down global food prices.
Source: DW
Half of Syria’s population faces hunger
14/3/2023: Over 12 million people, more than 50% of Syria's population, are currently food insecure and a further 3 million are at risk of sliding into hunger, as the country grapples with the impact of recent earthquakes and the 12-year-long conflict. A funding crunch for the World Food Programme in Syria threatens to curtail food aid, exactly when people need it most.
Source: World Food Programme
Global hunger set to spiral as debt crisis bites
6/3/2023: A panel of experts warns that the global food crisis has entered a dangerous new phase as developing country debt skyrockets. They observe that these countries are locked into exporting cash crops to pay off dollar-denominated debts at the expense of feeding local populations.
Source: iPes Food
Cereal production falls in Africa’s “year of nutrition”
17/2/2023: Despite promises, nearly three-quarters of African governments have reduced their agricultural budgets while paying almost double that on arms. Chronic under-investment in agriculture is a key cause of the widespread hunger experienced in 2022.
Source: Oxfam International
UN food agencies call for action on the global food crisis
8/2/2023: A joint statement by UN food and development agencies warns that food insecurity is on the rise, with global food supplies projected to drop to a three-year low in 2022/2023. They recommend urgent action to rescue hunger hotspots, facilitate trade and reform harmful subsidies.
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Africa’s vast arable land underutilized for food security
16/1/2023: UN data shows that Africa is home to an estimated 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Experts argue that pitting food crops for domestic markets against cash crops for export is not the right conversation to have.
Source: Inter Press Service
Another bleak year expected for food security
4/1/2023: As the war in Ukraine approaches its second year, food experts are concerned that fertilizer shortages and rising prices will impact crop yields. Rising debt levels are affecting low-and-middle-income countries, constraining imports of basic staples.
Source: Devex
UN food agencies call for urgent action in the Sahel
8/12/2022: The number of hungry people in West and Central Africa is projected to reach an all-time high of 48 million next year if urgent and long-lasting solutions to address this crisis are not delivered soon. The food and nutrition security outlook for 2023 is extremely worrying for the entire Sahel region.
Source: World Food Programme
AGRA gets make-Up, not make-over
29/11/2022: The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa has dropped ‘Green Revolution’ from its name and announced a new five-year strategy. The Gates Foundation will continue to provide more than two-thirds of AGRA’s funding. Is there any evidence of a new approach to sustainable agriculture in Africa?
Source: Inter Press Service
Milestone against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
7/11/2022: A hundred States have committed to the UN Agreement on Port State Measures, a binding instrument which denies port access and use to foreign vessels engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. One in every five fish caught around the world may originate from such fishing.
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization