Feed Situation

The report provides a review of the food situation by geographic region, a section dedicated to the LIFDCs and a list of countries requiring external assistance for food. It also includes a global cereal supply and demand overview to complement the biannual analysis in the Food Outlook publication.

The Crop Prospects and Food Situation report provides a forward-looking analysis of the food situation across the globe, focusing on the cereal production outlook, market situation and food security conditions, with a particular attention on Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries (LIFDCs). In 2023, FAO assesses that globally 46 countries/territories, including 33 in Africa, ten in Asia, two in Latin America and the Caribbean and one in Europe, are in need of external assistance for food. Persisting and intensifying conflicts are key drivers of the severest levels of acute food insecurity, with recent concerns centred on the Near East.Furthermore, despite declining international prices, weak currencies in many low income countries are sustaining high domestic food prices and hampering households’ access to food. Regarding cereal production, while the global cereal output is forecast to expand by 0.9 percent in 2023 from the year before, the pace of growth will be half that rate for the group of 44 LIFDCs.

FAO assesses that globally 41 countries, of which 31 in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. Conflicts are the main cause of the high levels of severe food insecurity, while adverse weather conditions have also affected agricultural production, reducing food availability and access.