The Indian government faces falling global wheat prices as it looks to export bumper grain crops. Critics say India’s prices are not competitive and there may soon be a need for an alternative solution to free up storage space.
World Food Prices Stable, Low Stocks Pose Risk of Spikes: U.N.
FAO reports improved conditions as world food prices stabilized in January and crop outputs are expected to be favorable in 2013. The UN agency also reports that unexpected weather changes could pose serious risks as global reserves remain tight. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/07/us-food-fao-idUSBRE9160A220130207
Food Prices Drop, But Food Waste Increases, Reports Say
The International Mechanical Engineers Association released a report titled “Global Food: Waste Not Want Not” stating that 30-50% of all food globally is wasted or lost. The report describes various instances where loss occurs, ranging from storage issues in India to supermarket waste in the UK. The report received substantial media coverage, demonstrating rising public concern over PHL. […]
Govt to Sell Wheat Cheap in a Bid to Empty its Silos
The Indian government plans to lower the price of wheat it is selling under the open market sales scheme (OMSS) due to lack of buyer demand. Of the 6.5 million tonnes allocated for the OMSS, the government has only sold 3 million tonnes. Pressure to open up storage space is high as growers are set […]
Food in 2013: Pay more, Waste Less
The Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, wrote that Canadians are likely to see a 1.5%-3.5% increase in food prices in 2013 due to various factors like the 2012 drought, changes in market supply, and overall climate change. The article promotes cutting food waste, as high as 38% in Canadian households, as a top strategy […]
Tackling Waste Could Resolve Sustainability Challenges in Food Industry
The global food industry is increasingly concerned about food loss and food waste as prices rise for the third time in 5 years and global supply chains grow more vulnerable. Private sector mitigation strategies include forming the Food Waste Reduction Alliance (FWRA), establishing food recovery programs, and composting food waste. http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=104301
Asia’s Future Food Security Hinges on Modernization of Farm to Market Chains
ADB and the International Food Policy Research Center released a report on the importance of strong market supply chains in Asia. “The Quiet Revolution in Staple Value Food Chains” describes successes within the system and stresses the need to scale-up those strategies. http://www.adb.org/news/asias-future-food-security-hinges-modernization-farm-market-chains?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRohsqzKZKXonjHpfsX86%2BwrXqO1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4FScRkI%2FqLAzICFpZo2FFcH%2FaQZA%3D%3D
Floods, Fungi Fan Food-Price Jitters Over Argentine Wheat
Heavy rains in Argentina have damaged wheat crops, reducing the harvest from 11.5 to possibly just 9.5 million tonnes this year. Quality was also affected as added moisture and delayed harvest time spurred the growth of fungi which is causing the crop to rot in the fields. The situation is a point of concern for […]
World Food Situation
Wheat production is low on a global scale due to droughts and flooding in major exporting countries like the United States, Canada, Ukraine, and Argentina. FAO reports that current global reserves are near the level they were in 2008. With food prices projected to increase, the ability to strengthen smallholder participation in value-added supply chains […]
Wheat Gains for Second Day as Drought May Erode U.S. Supplies
The drought in the United States continues on and now threatens the hard, red winter wheat crop. Warmer temperatures may cause faster maturation, putting the crops at risk if temperatures do eventually drop to colder levels typical of winter months. Scientists from Iowa, a top grain growing state, said the drought demonstrates the strong need […]