Global oilseed production is estimated at record 472 million tons in the 2011-12 marketing year starting October but the growth in output will be subdued, FAO said in a report. Similarly soy bean production is expected to fall to 260.7 million tons from 265.8 million in 2010/2011.
Agriculture ministers from Mercosur full members plus Chile and Bolivia, as members of the Agriculture Council of the South, CAS, urged a quick conclusion of the World Trade Organization Doha Round negotiations to help combat poverty and ensure food security.
Uruguay’s Central bank sees “few probabilities” of a strong deceleration in emerging economies or a ‘significant’ fall in commodities prices even when lately there has been a drop in the value of grains although still above their historic average.
The World Bank approved last week a loan for 49 million dollars to support Uruguayan farmers in adopting environmentally sustainable practices to improve the resilience of their production systems in response to the effects of climate variability.
Argentina's 2011-12 soybean area will likely rise 0.6% on the year to 19 million hectares, the Agriculture Ministry said in its weekly crop report. The forecast is the first from the ministry for soybeans, the country's top crop and export.
The European Union has been forced to accept a 2% rise in its budget next year, much less than the increase it wanted of around 5%.
Paraguay’s wheat exports have doubled in 2011 compared to the previous year and has increased 33 fold in the last decade, and this has been based on a government-private effort of investing in scientific research and technology.
If proof was ever needed that adversity leads to a greater determination to succeed, it has been amply provided in a recent trip by the Falkland Islands Senior Agricultural Advisor, “Mac” McArthur, on a trade mission and cultural visit to Uruguay.
Argentina's 2011/2012 soy harvest is seen at 49.5 million tons, down from 50.3 million tons last season, the Rosario Grains Exchange said in its monthly crop report on Friday.
The FAO Food price index dropped to an 11-month low in October, declining 4%, or nine points, to 216 points from September. Nonetheless prices still remain generally higher than last year and very volatile, FAO said.