The FAO has predicted world sugar production to experience a 2% decline, for the 2023-24 period. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

India and Thailand have faced their driest months as the El Nino weather patterns have taken a massive toll on crop harvests, especially in case of crops like sugar that have seen a major downfall in production globally, with prices skyrocketing since 2011

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has predicted world sugar production to experience a 2% decline, for the 2023-24 period. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa that are already struggling with food insecurity are likely to face the hardest blow. For example Nigeria, where sugar is used to produce bread – a cheap source of calories – will face shortages of both bread and bakers due to the alarming spike in sugar prices.

Moreover, along with the rise in sugar prices comes a fall in exports. As a result, both India and Thailand have decided to restrict their sugar exports. According to a report by IFPRI, the Indian government recently extended the curb on exports beyond its original 31 October end date. Also, in order to ensure domestic supplies and keep inflation in check, the Thailand government on 28 October, listed sugar as a controlled commodity. 

While the future of these export restrictions remain uncertain, it is interesting to note that high and low income countries will have large differences in demand. For example, while affluent nations having high obesity rates may take this in a positive light, the already poor households in developing nations that are largely dependent on sugar as a source of their daily nutrition, will continue to face larger food costs and increasing burden. 

According to a report by Money Control, the drop in sugarcane production is pushing mills to produce more ethanol to be supplied to oil marketing companies. Moreover, with sugar prices being well above mill production costs, diverting to ethanol production from sugarcane products helps sugar mills to maintain a steady income. 

Project Lampung is the very first project in Way Kanan aimed at enhancing the capacity of palm oil smallholders. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Solidaridad, BASF, The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), and The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) have joined forces through the collaborative sustainability initiative, Project Lampung to strengthen the sustainable palm oil supply chain and support smallholder farmers

The FMC AR game is the latest edition to FMC Phillippines’ ‘FMC on Wheels’ initiative. (Image Source: FMC Corporation)

One of the leading global agricultural sciences company, FMC Corporation, has become the first within the agricultural industry in the Philippines to introduce an Augmented Reality (AR) game which aims to promote stewardship among farmers in a novel way

2023 was declared as the ‘International Year of Millets’. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Mumbai-born singer-songwriter, Falguni Shah’s (Falu) ‘Abundance in Millets’ song has been nominated for the 2024 Grammy Awards under the Best Global Music Performance Category

The song which promotes global awareness of millets to help minimise world hunger, features the Indian Prime Minister (PM), Narendra Modi delivering a speech during the inauguration of the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference which took place in March this year.

2023 was declared as the ‘International Year of Millets’, following a proposal put forward by India, and endorsed by the members of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), along with the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.

“The shared efforts of our farmers and Shree Anna (global millets) will adorn India and world’s prosperity with a new radiance,” stated PM Modi during the conference, which was also quoted in the song. “Today, as the world celebrates International Millet Year, India, with pride takes the lead in this initiative.”