On July 12, five UN agencies (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO) jointly released the 2023 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI). This year's report focuses on urbanization.

In recent years, in addition to the situation in Ukraine and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been concern about the depletion of phosphorus ore, the raw material for fertilizers, and the price of phosphorus fertilizers continues to rise. In the tropical developing regions where JIRCAS conducts research, weathered soils with phosphorus deficiencies are widespread, but sufficient phosphorus fertilizers cannot be purchased and applied for economic reasons. For this reason, JIRCAS has been engaged in various studies to overcome phosphorus deficiency. The results of a study on the early growth of rice plants using seeds with different amounts of phytic acid, which serves as a phosphorus reservoir in the seeds, showed that the use of seeds with high amounts of phytic acid can improve the early growth of rice plants not only in phosphorus-deficient soils but also in phosphorus-rich soils.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its latest World Food Price Trends on July 7. The June 2023 index averaged 122.3 points, down 1.7 points (1.4%) from the previous month and 37.4 points (23.4%) below the all-time high reached in March 2022. The June decline reflects significant declines in the price indices for sugar, vegetable oil, cereals and dairy products, while meat prices were virtually unchanged.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has helped avert a global food crisis by guaranteeing exports of Ukrainian crops, is reportedly being mediated by the EU and the UN as the July 17 deadline for re-extension looms and Russia takes a stand against extending the agreement. While a breakdown in negotiations could reignite fears of rising global food prices, last-minute coordination among the parties involved appears to be continuing.

Sustainable development requires that economic growth and the conservation of the natural environment be achieved simultaneously, and that these conditions be maintained over the long term. However, economic growth and conservation have often been viewed as trade-offs. In contrast, a recent paper published in PNAS shows that degradation of the natural environment causes significant economic losses, especially in low-income countries, and that investments in conservation have the potential to generate significant economic benefits, especially for people in low-income countries.

On June 27, Global Forest Watch, operated by the World Resources Institute (WRI), reported that tropical primary forest loss in 2022 will total 4.1 million hectares, an area the size of Switzerland. Brazil is responsible for 43% of the world's primary forest loss, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana in Africa have also experienced record levels of primary forest destruction. In contrast, Indonesia and Malaysia reported reduced forest loss, perhaps due to industry regulation and corporate engagement.

The climate change debate suggests that the Earth is reaching a tipping point, a point of dramatic and irreversible change caused by anthropogenic economic activities during the Anthropocene epoch. A paper published on June 22 in Nature Sustainability warned of the possibility of an even earlier ecosystem collapse due to the correlation of multiple stresses, such as global warming caused by human economic activities, environmental impacts, and disruptive factors such as extreme events.

On June 20, the UN Secretary-General issued a statement expressing his disappointment with the delays in the procedures and negotiations for food and fertilizer exports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative and stressed the importance of continuing the Basic Agreement with Russia. Meanwhile, it was reported on June 24 that the Russian private military company Wagner, which participated in the invasion of Ukraine, had withdrawn after turning against the invasion once in southern Russia, and geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the food supply chain remains high.

The concept of “net-zero" refers to offsetting carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activities by subtracting carbon absorption and removal. While every country is committed to achieving net zero, in order to realize a world "leaving no one behind", it is essential to improve production in agriculture, forestry and livestock in countries that still face food and nutrition security challenges, and the promotion and diffusion of innovations that can be compatible with reducing greenhouse gas emissions is urgently needed.