TheState of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2006 focuses on the question of why the development and food security needs of developing countries need to be better reflected in the design and implementation of new agreements on further liberalization of international agricultural markets, and on the mechanisms under discussion to achieve this goal. In the WTO Doha Development Round, how to safeguard the interests of enveloping countries, especially the lower-income countries, has proved to be highly topical but is also problematic: the issues and arguments are complex and sometimes controversial. The stalling of the Doha Round in July 2006 has provided an opportunity to revisit the issues of how future reductions in import tariffs on agricultural products will affect different developing countries, whether there might be any negative repercussions of further liberalization and, if so, how these might be addressed in the formulation of new trade rules.

This research paper looks at the crises in international agricultural markets during the last decade and draws out some lessons. Although crop prices continue to be volatile, the bout of high prices/high volatility ended by 2015. The initial rapid rise of prices was not predicted, and surprised both market players and the international community more broadly. Considerable policy attention was focused on the crisis, by the UN broadly, by FAO and its members, by G20 heads, agricultural groups, and national governments. Attention by investors was also significant, as rates of return rose. The links of higher prices to growing population, incomes, energy/biofuels, dietary mix, combined with concerns for future sustainability and climate change, drew substantial concern. The main causes of higher and more volatile prices are now reasonably well understood, particularly the critical role played by adverse domestic policy reaction. However, the impact of higher prices is less well understood. Indicators of food insecurity now appear to show less impact than originally estimated, and supply response bringing prices down appears to have been higher than anticipated. International governance institutions have learned that timely cooperation of data and sharing of policy actions are crucial in times of market shocks. The paper draws from recent data and interviews with various analysts to draw out lessons for understanding markets, the need for timely data and indicators, and the roles for governance institutions.

Global agricultural trade has increased significantly in value terms since 2000. Its pattern has also changed – emerging economies and developing countries play a bigger role in international markets, and South–South agricultural trade has expanded significantly. Climate change is expected to affect agriculture, food security and nutrition unevenly across countries and regions. Changes in comparative advantage in agriculture around the world will also affect international trade. This edition of The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets focuses on the complex and underexplored intersection between agricultural trade, climate change and food security. The report makes an important contribution to the policy debates on climate change adaptation and mitigation under the Paris Agreement and the multilateral agricultural trade rules. The report discusses policies – both domestic support and trade measures – that can promote food security, adaptation and mitigation, and improve the livelihoods of family farmers around the world. Given both the slow- and rapid-onset impacts of climate change, policies that can significantly promote climate change adaptation and mitigation would benefit from deeper discussions in international fora on how to strengthen the mutually supportive role of trade rules and climate interventions.

Handbook of Agricultural Economics, Volume Six highlights new advances in the field, with this new release exploring comprehensive chapters written by an international board of authors who discuss topics such as The Economics of Food Loss and Waste, Empowering Communities Using an Integrated Design of Food Networks, Concentration in Food and Agricultural Markets, Agriculture and trade, Producers, Consumers, and Value Chains in Developing Countries, The Multiple Burdens of Malnutrition: Dietary Transition and Food System Transformation in Economic Development, Psychophysiological Measures and Consumer Food Choice, and The Economics of Health and Nutrition Related Food Policies: The Effects on the Public Health and Malnutrition. - Presents the latest release in the Handbook of Agricultural Economics - Written and contributed by leaders in the field - Covers topics such as Economics on Food Loss and Waste, Integrated Design of Food Networks, Agriculture and Trade, and more

The In Brief version of the FAO flagship publication, The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2022, contains the key messages and main points from the publication and is aimed at the media, policy makers and a more general public.

The role of market concentration and potential market power exertion in the agri-food industry is a topic of longstanding interest and concern to policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers. This study provides a comprehensive overview of recent trends in market concentration upstream, midstream, and downstream the agri-food industry at the global, regional, and country level, and assesses how and to what extent concentration could be affecting market conduct and performance of food systems in developed and developing countries. The analysis additionally discusses, to the extent detectable, implications of concentration, including vertical and horizontal integration that favor concentration, for food security and nutrition and environmental sustainability. While market concentration in the agri-food industry has increased across most segments, the evidence on market power exertion is inconclusive. Several knowledge and data gaps are identified and additional research is necessary to derive more general conclusions and policy recommendations.

Agricultural trade is a major factor determining food security in Caribbean countries. In these small open economies, exports are essential, whilst imports provide a large part of the food supply. This book examines various dimensions of trade policy and related issues and suggests policies to address trade and food security and rural development linkages. It is as a guide and reference documents for agricultural trade policy analysts, trade negotiators, policy-makers and planners in both the public and private sectors.