The FAO food price index has increased 32.8 per cent from September 2020 – food prices globally have increased by a third in a year.
Uncertainty in harvest due to Covid-19, fire, drought and flood, as well as demand, have combined to stimulate inflation not seen since 2011. Food accessibility (available and affordable) is an issue globally.
Ever-cheaper food, though an expectation in developed countries, is likely to be a thing of the past as farmers try to manage improved productivity (more food with reduced inputs) within the uncertainties of a changing environment – due to both the climate and regulation.
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While the wealthy countries develop new technologies to assist the challenge of meeting the nutritional needs of an ever-increasing global population from current agricultural land, work is vital with the less developed countries to help them achieve higher yields – to overcome what is known as the yield gap.
Better soil management, improved genetics and matching inputs with plant and animal needs (including health and welfare) is key. So is harvesting, processing, storage and distribution to reduce waste.
