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754. March 2023 World Food Price Index
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released on April 7 the World Food Price Index for March 2023, averaging 126.9 points, down 2.1% from the previous month, the 12th consecutive monthly decline, and 32.8 points (20.5%) lower than the high reached a year ago in March 2022. The decline reflected fall in cereal, vegetable oil, and dairy price indeces. On the other hand, depending on developments in international logistics for Russian grains and fertilizers, the impact of the food supply chain disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine may be prolonged.
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753. Solutions to Meet Feed Demand
The production and consumption of animal products and their feed is increasing in the modern food system. Global meat production has quadrupled in the last 50 years, and there is a growing need to monitor trends in livestock and feed production and consumption for their impact on the food system. Here we present the "Solutions to Meet the Need for Feed" proposed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), an international NGO.
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752. Project Leader Marcy Wilder Participates in the 2023 Award Ceremony of the Japan Prize of Agricultural Science / Yomiuri Prize of Agricultural Science
Dr. Marcy Wilder, Project Leader in the Fisheries Division, received the "2023 Japan Prize of Agricultural Science/Yomiuri Prize of Agricultural Science" and delivered a commemorative lecture at the Award Ceremony on April 5, 2023.
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751. The Relationship Between Human and Nature in the Anthropocene
The Anthropocene is a hypothetical geological epoch proposed to mark the beginning of man's profound impact on the Earth's geology and ecosystems. In a recently published report, the European Environment Agency called for a fundamental shift in existing thinking and paradigms, including consumerism.
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750. JIRCAS-Erianthus Database of Native Erianthus Germplasm in Thailand Now Available
The JIRCAS-Erianthus database on morphological and agronomic characteristics of native Erianthus germplasm in Thailand, jointly collected by JIRCAS and the Khon Kaen Field Crops Research Center of Thailand, has been released. This database is expected to promote the use of Erianthus in sugarcane breeding, research, and biomass utilization in Thailand and other countries.
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749. Reports on Climate Change Featured in Pick Up
FY2023 has begun. The JIRCAS Pick Up features many reports published by international organizations and other organizations. In FY2022, we featured 23 reports. In this issue, we have compiled a summary of four reports on climate change from those published in FY2022.
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748. Recent Food Price Inflation and Fertilizer Problems
March has come to an end and the 2022 financial year is drawing to a close. Over the past year, global price indices for food, energy and fertiliser have soared to all-time highs, driven by fears of disruption to the global food supply chain following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Although international prices have calmed recently, food price inflation continues to rise globally and small countries in sub-Saharan Africa are finding it difficult to secure alternative sources of fertilizer imports, suggesting that fertilizer consumption may have fallen significantly.
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747. Thinking About Regenerative Agriculture
In recent years, there has been a growing movement, mainly in the private sector and civil society, to promote a "regenerative" approach to agriculture. The word "regenerative" seems to mean "to regenerate and revitalize what is broken. Indeed, the current agricultural and food system is one of the biggest causes of the most serious environmental crises of our time: climate change and biodiversity loss. At the same time, rather than simply winding back the hands of the clock, we need to embrace technological and economic progress and seek regenerative pathways that are adapted to the circumstances of each region of the world. The outdoor company Patagonia will hold its first conference in Japan on the theme of "Regenerative Organic”. JIRCAS will also present a lecture that will give a bird's eye view of the state of agriculture and food systems today.
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746. Day-to-day Temperature Variability
Temperatures have been fluctuating wildly of late. For the first time in three years since the COVID-19 pandemic, people looking forward to cherry blossom viewing and the food service industry may have been affected. Today, we look back at a paper published in Nature Climate Change, which we have mentioned before, that evaluates the relationship between daily temperature fluctuations and economic growth.
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745. The 2nd Meeting of the International Scientific Advisory Board for Strategy “MIDORI”
With the launching of the Sustainable Food Systems Strategy “MIDORI” in May 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is promoting the application of agricultural technologies which enhance production potentials and ensure sustainable food systems. From FY2022, MAFF has initiated the project “Accelerating application of agricultural technologies which enhance production potentials and ensure sustainable food systems in the Asia-Monsoon region”, which is now being implementing at JIRCAS under the name of the "Green Asia” project. The 2nd meeting of the International Scientific Advisory Board for Strategy “MIDORI” was held on March 16, 2023.
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744. Impact of Global Food Consumption on Future Global Warming
Agriculture and food systems are one of the major sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and a paper published this month in Nature Climate Change estimates that food consumption could increase warming by 1°C by 2100, with 75% of this increase coming from methane emission sources (ruminant meat, dairy products, rice), The paper also showed that 55% of the projected greenhouse effect could be avoided by implementing measures such as improved production practices, healthier diets, and reduced food waste at the consumption and retail levels.
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743. Planetary Health Diet Lacks Micronutrients
A nutritional reassessment of the EAT-Lancet planetary health diet, which has made waves around the world, shows that it is low in animal products and does not supply sufficient amounts of vitamin B12, calcium, iron and zinc.
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742. AR6 Synthesis Report～Humanity's Survival Guide to Defuse the Climate Time-bomb～
On March 20, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Synthesis Report of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which addresses the current and projected status of climate change and outlines measures needed to curb global warming in accordance with the Paris Agreement. This report, which synthesizes the findings published in the AR6, has had a significant impact on international public opinion on climate change and has been described by UN Secretary-General Guterres as “a survival guide for humanity to defuse the climate time-bomb”.
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741. World Water Day
March 22 is World Water Day. World Water Day was established with the aim of accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis. The Synthesis Report of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), released on March 20, also points out that with climate change, water-related challenges will increase, potentially threatening food nutrition and water security. Water affects everyone, so action is needed by all.
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740. International Day of Forests 2023 ーForests and Health
Tomorrow, March 21st, is the International Day of Forests. The theme for 2023 is “Forests and health”. Forests are not only important sources of food and nutrition, but also play a major role in the fight against climate change. However, forests are threatened by destruction and degradation caused by human economic activities and need support for conservation and protection. A team from JIRCAS is implementing the SATREPS project "Strengthening Tropical Forest Resilience Based on Management and Utilization of Genetic Resources Capable of Climate Change Adaptation” in Indonesia for sustainable use and conservation of tropical forest resources.
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739. Cereal Supply and Demand and Ukraine's Production and Export Trends
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) releases a monthly food security report on the supply, demand, and market prices of agricultural products based on published data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and reports from various countries. The main contents of the February issue are as follows: (1) Harvest in the northern hemisphere ended in February. (2) Global wheat production exceeded the previous year's level due to bumper wheat crops in Australia and Russia. (3) International wheat prices returned to pre-Russian invasion levels. (4) For corn, world production was lower than the previous year due to dry conditions in the US, Europe and Argentina. (5) For soybeans, production will decrease in the US and Argentina, but increase in Brazil.
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738. The Future of International Cooperation on Food and Fertilizer Exports from the Black Sea Region
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, uncertainty surrounding the stagnation of food and fertilizer exports from the two major food exporting countries has caused food prices to soar in the first half of this year, affecting global food security. An agreement guaranteeing exports of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea was signed last July and extended in November, but as the deadline, March 18, looms, officials are reportedly negotiating an extension with Russia.
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737. Measures Against Extreme Weather Disasters～Leave No One Behind～
Climate change is increasing the frequency and magnitude of extreme events, with a profound impact on local economies, people's livelihoods, and the natural environment. An article in Nature pointed out that flash floods are more likely to occur in arid regions because the drier the soil, the more it repels water, and people tend to live in flood plains unprepared for flash floods.
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736. Rising Cases of Diabetes and Obesity Worldwide
A study recently published in Cell Metabolism reveals that cases of type 2 diabetes and obesity are on the rise worldwide and are increasing rapidly, especially among poorer social groups. The study further noted that while healthy life years lost due to obesity are decreasing in high-income countries, they are increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries, and there is no doubt that disparities in health care, healthy eating, and moderate exercise are exacerbating the metabolic-related burden.
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735. Human Society’s Response to Climate Change and the Fate of Biodiversity
Climate change affects food security and access to natural resources, causing reactions from human society. A PNAS journal article published in February discussed the importance of understanding the impact of climate change on biodiversity through its impact on human society.