The world's biggest pork producer is shuttering a major United States plant indefinitely after a coronavirus outbreak among employees, with the company warning that closures across the country are taking American meat supplies perilously close to the edge of shortfalls.
FAO's forecast for 2020 world wheat production remains unchanged in March from the previous month, at the near-record level of last year, which, coupled with ample inventories, will help shield food markets from turmoil during the coronavirus storm.
World food prices declined sharply in March, driven mostly by demand-side contractions linked to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in global oil prices due mostly to expectations of economic slowdown as governments roll out restrictions designed to respond to the health crisis.
Falkland Islands farmers are deeply concerned because wool prices have crashed to 40-50% below levels of early 2019, and as much as 70% of the Falklands 2019/20 wool clip is as yet unsold.
The United Nations has warned of an impending food shortage due to the coronavirus pandemic as major exporters such as Argentina find it increasingly difficult to sell their produce.
Deprived of customers such as supermarkets, restaurants, and schools due to the coronavirus outbreak and resulting lockdown, British farmers are throwing away thousands of liters of milk.
Market reports suggest that Argentine beef shipments to the European Union have reduced to almost zero amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Sales to China, the main buyer, have dropped below 2019 levels.
The Bahamas flagged vessel named Bader III, which specializes in transporting live cattle, docked last weekend at Estaleiro Rio Grande Pier, Brazil, to handle the largest ever shipment of such cargo at the port.
China has not approved any new Brazilian meat plants for export this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, an official at Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said, adding that all approvals were on hold until the crisis eases.
Two of the leading international seafood expos and fisheries business hubs have been suspended as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Diversified Communications, which organizes the Seafood Expo North America in Boston said the event, scheduled for March 15/17 has been postponed.