Global food commodity prices are
expected to remain high over the next decade on account of rising consumption
and declining agricultural production, the latest OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook
has said.
"The Outlook anticipates that agricultural output growth will slow to an average of 1.7 per cent annually over the next 10 years, down from a trend rate of over 2 per cent per year in recent decades," it said.
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and United Nation's body Food and Agriculture Organisation, in its OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021, said population growth is also increasing demand pressures.
"While international agricultural commodity markets appear to have entered calmer conditions after record highs (in prices) last year, food commodity prices are anticipated to remain on a higher plateau over the next decade...", the FAO said on its website.
This, it said, is underpinned by firm demand but a slowing growth in global production.
The report points out that in addition to population growth, higher per capita incomes, urban migration and changing diets in developing countries, as well as rising requirements for biofuel feedstocks are underpinning demand pressures, it added.
Higher input costs, increasing resource constraints, growing environmental pressures and the impacts of climate change will all serve to dampen supply response, it added.
The report stresses on sustainable agricultural practices for increasing production.
Speaking about the outlook, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said: "Governments should renounce trade-distorting practices and create an enabling environment for a thriving and sustainable agriculture underpinned by improved productivity."
Increased productivity, green-growth and more open markets will be essential if the food and nutrition requirements of future generations are to be met, he added.
FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said the focus should be on increasing sustainable productivity growth, especially in developing countries and for small producers.
"For consumers, especially for the millions of people living in extreme poverty, high food prices have caused considerable hardship. We need to redouble our efforts to bring down the number of hungry people," he added.
The report also drew attention on climate change and its impact on agriculture.
It said 25 per cent of all farm land is highly degraded and water scarcity in agriculture is a fact for many countries. There is a growing consensus that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and climatic patterns are changing in many parts of the world.
"The Outlook anticipates that agricultural output growth will slow to an average of 1.7 per cent annually over the next 10 years, down from a trend rate of over 2 per cent per year in recent decades," it said.
The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and United Nation's body Food and Agriculture Organisation, in its OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021, said population growth is also increasing demand pressures.
"While international agricultural commodity markets appear to have entered calmer conditions after record highs (in prices) last year, food commodity prices are anticipated to remain on a higher plateau over the next decade...", the FAO said on its website.
This, it said, is underpinned by firm demand but a slowing growth in global production.
The report points out that in addition to population growth, higher per capita incomes, urban migration and changing diets in developing countries, as well as rising requirements for biofuel feedstocks are underpinning demand pressures, it added.
Higher input costs, increasing resource constraints, growing environmental pressures and the impacts of climate change will all serve to dampen supply response, it added.
The report stresses on sustainable agricultural practices for increasing production.
Speaking about the outlook, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said: "Governments should renounce trade-distorting practices and create an enabling environment for a thriving and sustainable agriculture underpinned by improved productivity."
Increased productivity, green-growth and more open markets will be essential if the food and nutrition requirements of future generations are to be met, he added.
FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said the focus should be on increasing sustainable productivity growth, especially in developing countries and for small producers.
"For consumers, especially for the millions of people living in extreme poverty, high food prices have caused considerable hardship. We need to redouble our efforts to bring down the number of hungry people," he added.
The report also drew attention on climate change and its impact on agriculture.
It said 25 per cent of all farm land is highly degraded and water scarcity in agriculture is a fact for many countries. There is a growing consensus that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and climatic patterns are changing in many parts of the world.
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