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BookletTechnical reportRevealing the hidden costs of agrifood systems in Small Island Developing States
Insights from The State of Food and Agriculture 2024
2025Also available in:
No results found.Agrifood systems are essential for providing nourishment, sustaining livelihoods and shaping cultural identities. However, they also generate significant environmental, social and health hidden costs that are not reflected in market prices. These costs stem from unsustainable practices that contribute to climate change, natural resource degradation and the unaffordability of healthy diets. The 2023 and 2024 editions of The State of Food and Agriculture apply a true cost accounting (TCA) approach to estimate these costs, revealing that global hidden costs likely exceeded USD 10 trillion (PPP) in 2020. This report presents the 2024 TCA estimates for 12 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – a diverse group of countries in terms of geography and income levels, facing unique vulnerabilities due to their size, remoteness and exposure to environmental shocks. The national-level estimates presented here offer a foundation for more in-depth and targeted assessments, supporting stakeholders in identifying priorities and guiding action towards more sustainable agrifood systems. -
Book (stand-alone)Technical bookCosts and benefits of clean energy technologies in the milk, vegetable and rice value chains
Intervention level
2018Also available in:
No results found.The report focuses on three food supply value chains, their costs, benefits and sustainability potentials were analysed together with unintended impacts at the intervention level (e.g. at farmer or food processor level). A methodological approach was developed to provide a sound and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The potential added value of these technologies for different stakeholders was then considered using selected case studies. The methodological approach highlights hidden environmental and socio-economic costs of interventions, such as government-subsidized fossil fuel, which are often borne by non-economic operators. Such costs and co-benefits were therefore included and highlighted in the analysis and compared to a simple financial analysis to inform investments. A range of 12 impact indicators was developed to assess potential non-monetized environmental and socio-economic impacts that could arise when introducing an innovative clean energy technology. Costs were compiled for each of the selected agrifood clean energy technologies, based on case studies where data were available. A CBA for intervention-level was then conducted to assess the impacts from adopting a specific technology, such as an improvement in the efficient use of energy. -
Book (series)Working paperThe hidden costs of coffee production in the Eastern African value chains
Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2024
2024Also available in:
No results found.There is growing recognition that significant costs associated with food systems remain unaccounted for in market prices. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world and the most traded agricultural commodity. More than 30 million smallholder households rely directly on coffee income. This background paper includes a study that attempts to quantify the environmental and social externalities of coffee value chains in three countries in Eastern Africa: Ethiopia, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Using a refined and simplified methodologies to quantify social and environmental externalities associated with climate, water, child labour, gender inequality and the living income gap, the paper applies the marginal damage cost approach to monetize the hidden costs. Both social and environmental externalities contribute significantly to the hidden costs of Eastern African coffee value chains, with Robusta coffee boasting considerably higher social hidden costs from the living income gap than Arabica due to its lower farm gate prices and profit margins. Hidden costs associated with the living income gap constitute the largest share, particularly in Ethiopia. Large variations in hidden costs in different production systems and regions are identified. The paper provides four important recommendations for policymakers in producing and importing countries.
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BookletHigh-profileFAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 2022The FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 was endorsed by FAO Council in June 2022. This new strategy replaces the previous strategy from 2017 to better FAO's climate action with the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and other FAO strategies that have been developed since then. The Strategy was elaborated following an inclusive process of consultation with FAO Members, FAO staff from headquarters and decentralized offices, as well as external partners. It articulates FAO's vision for agrifood systems by 2050, around three main pillars of action: at global and regional level, at country level, and at local level. The Strategy also encourages key guiding principles for action, such as science and innovation, inclusiveness, partnerships, and access to finance.
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Book (series)FlagshipThe State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
2021In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms. -
DocumentOther documentTechnique Culturale de la Patate Douce, Congo (RDC) 2011
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No results found.La patate douce est une plante à tubercule, cultivée pour l’alimentation de l’homme et des animaux. Elle couvre bien le sol avec son feuillage abondant et ses longues tiges ; elle aide donc à protéger le sol contre l’érosion. Les feuilles de patate douce sont de très bons légumes. Les variétés de patate douce à chair orange sont riches en vitamine A. Trois variétés de patate douce utilisées au Congo sont présentées dans le ficher joint. Pour plus de détail, veuillez-vous y reporter.