Agriculture

• Friday, October 8th 2010 - 00:12 UTC

  Brazil forecasts crop will reach a record 148.9 million tons in 2010 farm year

  

  Brazil forecasts a record crop of cereals and oilseeds totalling 148.9 million tons, the largest ever, according to the latest release from the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.

• Wednesday, October 6th 2010 - 22:47 UTC

  GM cultivation totalled 134 million hectares in 2009; 77% soybeans, 49% cotton

  

  The cultivation of genetically modified plants increased globally in 2009 with the field area rising by nine million hectares over 2008 to a total of 134 million.

• Monday, October 4th 2010 - 22:40 UTC

  Zoellick calls for the reinstatement of emergency food aid program

  

  World Bank president Robert Zoellick expressed concern about the renewed speculation with agriculture commodities which in the last months have seen prices of food in developing countries soar

• Saturday, September 25th 2010 - 05:02 UTC

  FAO emergency meeting to address soaring prices of cereals

  

  Experts from more than 75 FAO Member States agreed Friday that while there were no grounds for complacency, there was no indication of an impending world food crisis. They proposed exploring new measures to check food price volatility and manage associated risks.

• Sunday, September 12th 2010 - 06:50 UTC

  USDA cuts forecast for global wheat 2010/11 harvest, 5.5% down from last year

  

  US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has cut its forecast for global wheat production in 2010-11, but by less than expected. USDA now predicts total output of 643 million tonnes for the current agricultural year, down from its August forecast of 645.7 million.

• Monday, September 6th 2010 - 05:15 UTC

  IMF confident risks of further large price spikes for wheat have eased

  

  Despite a large rise in the two months to August, wheat prices remain well below levels reached during the boom in 2008 and market pricing indicates that the risks of further large price spikes have eased, says a report from the IMF.

• Friday, September 3rd 2010 - 03:30 UTC

  Wheat climbs as Russia extends ban on exports until next year’s crop

  

  Wheat climbed after Russia, the third-largest grower last year, extended a ban on exports into next year following a drought destroyed crops, tightening global supplies. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization called a special meeting to address the global grains situation.

• Wednesday, September 1st 2010 - 19:08 UTC

  Wheat prices drive FAO food prize index at its highest since September 2008

  

  Surging wheat prices drove international food prices up 5% last month in the biggest month-on-month increase since November 2009, FAO announced. The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) averaged 176 points in August, up nearly nine points from July, FAO said in its latest update on the global cereals supply and demand situation.

• Monday, August 30th 2010 - 06:59 UTC

  UK scientists decode wheat genome; vital to help feed growing population

  

  British scientists have released draft sequences of the wheat genome, which they think could make a vital contribution to securing global food supplies. The researchers say their efforts could help British farmers to develop new strains with greater yields.

• Thursday, August 26th 2010 - 03:24 UTC

  With strong farm sector recovery Paraguay economy forecasted to grow 9%

  

  Paraguay raised its 2010 economic growth forecast to 9% from 6% on an improved agricultural production outlook, the central bank said this week. This would be the Paraguayan economy largest annual expansion in almost three decades.