Currently, 75 percent of farmers in the country's main food-producing region lack sufficient seed, with little time left before the end of the planting season in August. FAO is appealing for US$33.5 million to help cyclone-affected households restore their livelihoods and resume food production during this crucial period.

Overall needs for relief and recovery activities in farming, fisheries, aquaculture and forestry over the next 12 months total US$51 million under the revised appeal for Cyc more...

After nine days of negotiations, some 30 or 35 nations have failed to reach an agreement on the Doha Round of trade talks. The talks which were started in 2001 have a very ambitious agenda of liberalization of trade regimes and reduction of trade barriers. The talks have ground to a halt on previous occasions and this session has been seen be some as the last, best chance. While some observers suggest that only a wide ranging agreement is likely to succeed providing the trade-offs that will sati more...

'More than 14 million people in the Horn of Africa need food aid because of drought and rocketing food and fuel prices, the United Nations has warned. The UN World Food Programme says it urgently needs $400m (£200m) to prevent starvation in the east African region. Ethiopia is worst hit, with 10 million people - some 12% of the population - in need of extra food supplies.'

The Millennium Project publishes a report periodically assessing the current state of the world and projecting developments in the future. The 2008 report is to be published in August 2008; the website provides information on the report and a ten page summary. The report and accompanying CD are expensive, but the summary can be downloaded free. by Jerome C. Glenn, Theodore J. Gordon, and Elizabeth Florescu.

9 July 2008, Rome - FAO has just approved a series of projects in 48 countries for a total value of US$ 21 million to help small farmers and vulnerable households mitigate the negative effects of rising food and input prices.
The projects will provide farmers with agricultural inputs as of this month for an expected duration of one year. Funded by the Technical Cooperation Programme – i.e. FAO's own resources – they are part of FAO’s Initiative on soaring food prices (ISFP).

The immedi more...

The Australian Government today confirms it will provide $50 million to a new World Bank trust fund to stimulate agricultural production in developing countries adversely affected by recent steep increases in food prices.

The $50m is in addition to the $30m the Australian Government contributed to the World Food Programme for emergency humanitarian food aid in May.

The World Bank is seeking $500 million for the new fund and Australia's contribution represents 10% of the World Bank's appe more...

Lead: 'The United States and other members of the Group of Eight industrialized countries this week reiterated their commitment to doubling aid to Africa by 2010, seeking to assuage growing concern that they will miss the ambitious targets they set three years ago in Gleneagles, Scotland.' The article continues: 'They promised to create a global partnership of governments and nonprofits to address the food crisis that threatens to wipe out recent gains on the continent. They instituted new 'acco more...

Climate change, reform of the United Nations Security Council and the global food crisis have been top priorities for the General Assembly during its 62nd session, according to its President Srgjan Kerim.

‘Climate change poses special threats and places extra demands on a considerable group of countries. For them the threat is far from abstract and remote, but clear and present and may already affect the actual livelihoods of their people,’ Mr. Kerim told reporters today in New York.

more...

Climate change, reform of the United Nations Security Council and the global food crisis have been top priorities for the General Assembly during its 62nd session, according to its President Srgjan Kerim.

‘Climate change poses special threats and places extra demands on a considerable group of countries. For them the threat is far from abstract and remote, but clear and present and may already affect the actual livelihoods of their people,’ Mr. Kerim told reporters today in New York.

more...

Soaring world food prices look set to force Gordon Brown into a U-turn over the use of crops such as corn, rapeseed, palm and soya to produce fuel as an alternative to petrol and diesel. Biofuels were seen as the eco-friendly answer to global warming and rising fuel prices but a report will force the Prime Minister to rethink his support for using crops to keep Britain's cars and lorries running.

A second report will also force Downing Street to revise its policies on food and the environment more...