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Looking ahead in world food and agriculture

Perspectives to 2050








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    The State of Food and Agriculture, 1996
    Food security: some macroeconomic dimensions
    1996
    Causes for concern must be underlined in the light of some of the recent trends and developments highlighted in this publication. These include the declining trend in international development assistance, flows of aid to agriculture and food aid availability. Whatever the political, market or financial forces behind such trends, they have deleterious immediate consequences for many poor countries. Another cause for concern has been the increasing evidence of economic hardship suffered in p articular by the poorest segments of the population in many countries committed to macroeconomic stabilization and market-oriented reform. The potential for generalized welfare gain offered by market liberalization is by now universally recognized. However, we have often argued, and must repeat here in the light of the recent experience of many countries, that support to the poor segments of the population must not be allowed to fail, nor must the interests of the poor be neglected, on principle s of market logic and economic efficiency. Examples exist to prove that policy emphasis on equity and human development, basic prerequisites for food security, can coexist with pressing financial problems and harsh economic realities. One such example, that of Burkina Faso, is discussed in this publication. Within the wide spectrum of factors affecting food security, those relating to macroeconomic and trade management play a prominent role. These are addressed in the special chapter of th is publication, Food security: some macroeconomic dimensions, which discusses the critical role of governments in choosing the appropriate combinations of monetary, fiscal, trade, investment and social policies to create an economic environment that is conducive to the attainment of food security.
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    The State of Food and Agriculture, 2000
    Lessons from the past 50 years
    2000
    The State of Food and Agriculture 2000 reports only very modest growth in world agricultural production in 1998, and the estimates for 1999 do not appear to indicate any improvement. Particularly for the developing countries, where the performance of the agricultural sector is of special concern, prospects for 1999 are for a noticeable slowdown in crop and livestock production - reflecting a negative trend that is now in its third consecutive year. It has been a difficult period for many of thes e countries, which have been facing unusually adverse climatic conditions, together with the negative economic impact of the financial crisis that erupted in 1997, declining prices of several of their major commodity exports and, in a number of cases, political instability and conflicts. Food supply disruptions associated with these problems have led to the outbreak or persistence of serious food emergency situations in a large number of countries - currently more than 30 - around the world. The close of a millennium is an opportune time for studying the past with a view to seeking lessons for the future. In its special chapter, "World food and agriculture: lessons from the past 50 years", The State of Food and Agriculture 2000 reflects on humankind's achievements and failures in fighting poverty and hunger over the past half-century - a theme that stimulates both historic and prospective thought.

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