Quick Facts

Population and consumption patterns -

• 862 million people are undernourished in the world today.
• Changing consumption patterns
• We are witnessing a worldwide diet globalization with more and more individuals requesting greater access to a variety of fruits and vegatables, and more meat based diets.
• According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, with an income growth of 5.5 percent per year in South Asia, annual per capita consumption of rice in the region is projected to decline from its 2000 level by 4 percent by 2025. At the same time, consumption of milk and vegetables is projected to increase by 70 percent and consumption of meats, eggs and fish is projected to increase by 100 percent.

Food Prices -

• During the first three months of 2008, international nominal prices of all major food commodities reached their highest level in nearly 50 years, while prices in real terms were the highest in 30 years.
• The FAO food price index rose 8 percent on average in 2006 compared with the previous year and by 24 percent in 2007 compared to 2006.
• Increases in the first three months of 2008 compared to the same timeframe in 2007:
• Overall: 53 percent
• Vegetable oils: 97 percent
• Grains: 87 percent
• Dairy products: 58 percent
• Rice: 46 percent

Trade -

• The global share of cereal imports by countries in Africa is about 22 percent.
• Consider this given that the cereal import bill in low-income food-deficit countries is expected to increase by as much as 56 percent from fiscal year 06/07 to 08/09.
• In spite of heightened costs, cereal imports to Africa during fiscal year 07/08 are expected to increase by 2.5 million tones to a total of 55 million tones.

Food Production -

• Production of a pound of beef requires 7 pounds of feed and every pound of pork produced requires 4 pounds of feed.
• Depending on the type of cropping system used:
  • It typically takes 1.5 to 2 pounds of fertilizer nutrients to grow a bushel of corn in the United States.
  • It typically takes 2.5 to 3.5 pounds of fertilizer nutrients to grow a bushel of wheat in the United States.
  • It typically takes 1 to 1.5 pounds of fertilizer nutrients to grow a bushel of soybeans in the United States.

Farmland -

• America loses 2 acres of farmland every minute.
• Farmers represent only about 1 to 2 percent of the U.S. population.
• Of the earth's 57 million square miles of land, approximately 12 million square miles are arable.
• Approximately 12 percent of China’s land is considered arable.