FAO Reports Record Cereal Production

The world’s cereal production is headed for a bumper 2017, with total output on track for a record, the United Nation’s food agency said Thursday, AFP reported. The increase will not, however, automatically alleviate world hunger, as conflicts and weather disasters continue to threaten food security in many regions, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in a report. “Global cereal production is forecast to reach a record level in 2017,” the FAO said. “Robust harvests in Latin America and rebounding agricultural conditions in southern Africa are on course to improve the global food supply situation, but ongoing civil conflicts and climate-related shocks are affecting progress towards hunger reduction,” it said. Total cereal production is estimated to reach 2.611 billion tons by the end of the year. Major gains are expected in Argentina and Brazil, while Africa is on target to add 10%. The FAO said some 37 countries, 28 of which are in Africa, still require external assistance for food.