Tag: FAO

17 sustainable good intentions, told by FAO – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

17 good resolutions for the new year? FAO tells us. Once the Christmas holidays are over, it is the ideal time to reflect on our behaviors and habits, aiming to make 2024 more sustainable and inclusive. And this also means contributing to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim of building a better future for all.

There sustainability, understood in a broad sense, embraces the need to ensure decent work, equal opportunities, health, education and a vibrant quality of life. Therefore, let us begin the new year with the aim of cultivating positive change in various aspects of our lives.

17 SDGs equal 17 good intentions for a sustainable 2024

Putting others first (SDG 1)

Let’s volunteer at local kitchens or homeless shelters. In this way we contribute to combating extreme poverty and ensure that no one feels excluded or forgotten.

Be careful with the food! (SDG 2)

We reduce food waste and choose local, seasonal and sustainable foods. We generously donate food aid, helping to combat the hunger that still afflicts millions of people around the world.

Lead a healthy lifestyle (SDG 3)

Let’s introduce nutritious foods into our diet and get used to doing regular physical exercises, because doing so helps promote individual and collective health. Let’s resist the urge to overeat by starting the year with good habits.

Give or donate a book (SDG 4)

We promote education by donating books or school supplies, thus helping to ensure a better future for less fortunate children and communities.

Supporting other women (SDG 5)

We celebrate and support the women in our lives, promotinggender equality. In this new year, we encourage women to pursue their ambitions and be leaders in their community.

Reduce water consumption (SDG 6)

We are aware of the importance ofwaterfall and let’s commit to reducing waste. Small gestures like turning off the tap while washing the dishes make a difference.

Reduce energy consumption (SDG 7)

We use low energy consumption light bulbs and take seriously the idea of sourcing from renewable energy sources. We turn off the lights when they are not needed and we evaluate the possibility of using solar panels.

Shopping at socially responsible companies (SDG 8)

We support companies with reputations of ethical working conditionspromoting fair and sustainable economic growth.

Be innovative (SDG 9)

We embrace innovative practices and technologies, spreading knowledge of sustainable solutions through social media.

Be aware of inequalities (SDG 10)

Let’s find out about inequalities in our community and let’s face them by participating in volunteering and donation initiatives.

Supporting a sustainable city (SDG 11)

We support the idea of sustainable cities, participating in local initiatives and communicating with city councils for responsible urban planning.

Adopt a low-waste lifestyle (SDG 12)

Reduce, reuse and recycle become daily mantras. We choose products with low environmental impact and support responsible brands.

Be climate aware (SDG 13)

Let’s make ours aware food and purchasing choices to reduce environmental impact, thus lowering our carbon footprint.

Keep parks and grounds clean (SDG 15)

Let’s get rid of waste responsibly, avoiding chemical contamination of land and water.

Promote inclusion and respect (SDG 16)

We deepen our knowledge of different religious traditions and holidays, promoting a world that respects differences.

Share what you have learned (SDG 17)

We share awareness and support local initiatives for sustainable development, helping to spread the word of the community.

These good intentions must not just be a January commitment, but the starting point for an entire year of positive actions. Let’s work together for a sustainable futurefueled by inclusion, awareness and responsibility towards our planet and future generations.

Source FAO

Prices of food raw materials in 2023: FAO analysis – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

In December 2023, theFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) revealed significant changes in the prices of food raw materials globally, with some sectors declining and others growing. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 118.5 points, showing a decrease of 1.5% compared to November and 10.1% compared to December 2022.

Food raw materials: price trends in 2023

Cereals

The grain price index increased by 1.5% due to higher prices of wheat, corn, rice and barley. This increase was influenced by logistical disruptions that hindered shipments from major exporting countries. Despite this, the annual index remained 15.4% below the 2022 average, indicating global markets well stocked.

Vegetable oil

The price index ofvegetable oil decreased by 1.4%, mainly due to declines in purchases of palm oil, soybean, rapeseed and sunflower seeds. The slowdown in demand for soybean oil in the biodiesel sector and the improvement of climatic conditions in Brazil have contributed to this decline. The annual index was 32.7% lower than the previous year’s level.

Sugar

The price index of sugar recorded a decrease of 16.6% compared to November, hitting a nine-month low. However, it is still up 14.9% compared to December 2022. Accelerated production in Brazil and reduced use of sugarcane for ethanol production in India were the main drivers of this decline.

Meat

The price index of meat recorded a decline of 1.0% in December, influenced by weak demand for pork imports from Asia. Regional purchases of beef and poultry have also slowed, despite ample exportable supplies. However, sheepmeat prices have increased ahead of the holidays.

Dairy products

In contrast to the negative trends, the price index of dairy products it grew 1.6% in December. While remaining 16.1% lower than December 2022, this monthly increase was driven by higher prices for butter and cheese, supported by strong domestic sales in Western Europe and growing global demand for whole milk powders.

Source FAO

Plants that feed the world: what are they? 4 tips from FAO – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

Even the lesser known and nutritious cereals, such as millet and sorghum, or grain-like and equally gluten-free alternatives, such as quinoa and amaranth, are on the rise. Minor, underutilized crops like these are now at the forefront of food trends, not only nutritionally, but also because many are beneficial to the environment.

Countries are becoming increasingly interdependent on crop varieties

With the climate crisis affecting precipitation patterns and global temperatures, some crop varieties no longer grow well in the places where they once thrived. For example, just a few years ago maybe not many would have predicted that corn would become difficult to grow in some areas of Africa. Yet, farmers in these areas are looking for other crops, such as millet, that are better suited to reducing rainfall. Changing climate patterns mean that countries will increasingly need to obtain plant varieties from other parts of the world to continue or improve their own production.

THE Climate change only increases interdependence, but countries have always depended on each other for crops that originate elsewhere. For example, the varieties of coffee from Africa have traveled around the world. While, when it comes to potatoes, South America has even more variety to offer than any other region.
In these contexts, the international treaty’s multilateral approach to collaboration between countries is increasingly important.

Tastes and fashions are also changing the demand for crops

L’evolution of tastes and trends is driving demand for new crop varieties from farmers looking to improve their livelihoods, whether growing quinoa or peas. But the new requests also come from other sectors, such as chefs, eager to explore the flavors and textures of traditional cereals, often more sustainable. For example, the Sierra Leonean chef, Fatmata Binta, has made a point of promoting fonio millet in her cuisine, which requires less water and is very nutritious. These voices were not part of the discussions when the international treaty was first negotiated, but now they are making themselves heard more and more.

Being the only one binding international agreement dedicated to the protection, conservation and exchange of plant genetic diversity that we grow and eat around the world, the international treaty plays an increasingly important role in our interdependent and ever-changing world.

The new report, which collects data relating to 355 crops, will play a critical role in informing policy discussions, including the update of the crop basket of Annex I of the international treaty. Thanks to the enormous amount of publicly available data underlying the study, it will also provide a key resource for researchers and decision makers globally. The report lays the foundation for humanity to explore the potential of thousands of other plants to meet our food needs in the future.

Source FAO