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G20 Agriculture Ministers commit to collaborate on healthy, sustainable food future
The countries that make up the G20 account for around 60 percent of the world's agricultural land, some 80 percent of global agricultural trade, and about two-thirds of global population. As such, these countries have an important role to play in global food and nutrition security, as well as sustainable agricultural production.
Early warning: Hard wheat prices continue to see excessive volatility
Hard wheat prices continued to experience excessive volatility this week, according to the Food Security Portal’s Excessive Food Price Variability Early Warning System . Futures prices for hard wheat on the Chicago Board of Trade rose in early August, reaching 586, 579, and 584 cents per bushel on August 6, 7, and 8, respectively; this is compared to 513 cents per bushel on July 6. According to the Wall Street Journal , Chicago wheat futures reached a three-year high in early August.
Hard wheat futures prices, 2015-2018
FAO Food Price Index Falls in July
The FAO Food Price Index fell sharply in July, the largest such decline since December 2017. The Index dropped by around 3.7 percent month-to-month from June, as well as 3.7 percent from its July 2017 levels. The decline is driven by reductions across all sub-indices.
The Cereal Price Index fell 3.6 percent from June and 0.8 percent from July 2017. The price of wheat, maize, and rice declined in June, although maize and wheat prices crept back up toward the end of the month due to concerns over production prospects.
Interview: Unpacking integrated nutrition with IFPRI’s Harold Alderman
Research shows that an integrated nutrition approach—bringing together social protection programs, behavior change communication, agricultural policies, plant breeding, and early childhood interventions— is crucial to building food security and resilience. IFPRI Senior Research Fellow Harold Alderman’s recent research has focused on the connections between nutrition and early child development, and how nutrition and social protection programs contribute to long term economic growth.
Addressing the nutrition challenge will take strong public-private collaboration, says new report
According to a new report from GAIN and the United States Council for International Business, one in three people worldwide suffer from either undernourishment or overweight/obesity. This malnutrition crisis is now global, affecting every country in the world. Experts have estimated that malnutrition results in the loss of at least 10% of global GDP every year, threatening economic development and poverty reduction.