United Nations

Lebanon is expected to run out of bread in 2½ weeks. Pics: GettyImages/alefbet/Mo Semsem

New in brief

Humanitarian aid scrambles to circumvent Lebanon’s bread crisis

By Gill Hyslop

The head of the United Nations’ food agency said the beleaguered country – which is battling economic and political woes, the COVID-19 pandemic and a major blast that tore through its capital city – could run out of bread in about 2½ weeks.

China losing taste for salt, though average intake is still sky high

China losing taste for salt, though average intake is still sky high

By RJ Whitehead

While China’s salt intake dropped by over one-fifth in a decade, it is still one of the world’s heaviest consumers, according to a Unicef-backed study that also found the country’s overall sodium intake was nearly three times WHO-recommended safe levels.

Mars has formed the first global standard for sustainable rice with the Sustainable Rice Platform

Mars announces sustainable rice partnership

By Michelle Perrett

Mars Food, the owner of Uncle Ben’s, has announced the first global standard for sustainable rice in partnership with the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP).

The FAO has only raised $4.8m of its $19m target to help support Yemeni farmers and other food producers

Yemen in ‘perfect storm’, says WFP chief

By Eliot Beer

Yemen is facing a “perfect storm” of food crises as its population tackles food, water and fuel shortages, WFP’s head warned, as the agency plans a US$320m relief effort.

China pledges millions to support food security, agri-sustainability

China

China pledges millions to support food security, agri-sustainability

By RJ Whitehead

China has announced a US$50m donation to the Food and Agriculture Organisation to support the UN body’s programme of "South-South cooperation" to improve food security and promote sustainable agricultural development over the next five years.

New World Bank rules will be disastrous for indigenous peoples

Insight

New World Bank rules will be disastrous for indigenous peoples

By Marta Kasztelan

The World Bank has come under a barrage of criticism from rights groups, which allege its revised rules for granting loans of up to US$50bn a year to developing countries will have disastrous consequences for indigenous peoples and the poor.

Cargill has called on the RSPO to renew its principals

RSPO needs to broaden its principles: Cargill

By Rod Addy

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has been called on to renew its principles on zero deforestation, land development and rights by Cargill Refined Oils Europe.

FAO: “Prospects for the winter wheat and barley crops, for harvest from May 2014, are unfavourable.

Syrian drought threatens food crops

By Eliot Beer

Syria may be facing increasing food security threats as drought threatens this year's harvests, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has said.

FAO: Apac countries pushing forward to counter hunger

FAO: Apac countries pushing forward to counter hunger

By RJ Whitehead

The mission for an end to hunger in the Asia-Pacific region has received a boost after members of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation responded to a call by the its director-general, José Graziano da Silva, for a “massive effort” to end hunger...

United Nations calls for pro-family farming policies

United Nations calls for pro-family farming policies

By RJ Whitehead

The United Nations and its Food and Agriculture Organisation have appealed to governments to boost support to the world’s small-scale family farmers in order to win the fight against hunger. 

Asia to consume over two-thirds of the world's fish by 2030

Asia to consume over two-thirds of the world's fish by 2030

By RJ Whitehead

By 2030, Asian countries will account for 70% of global fish consumption, according to a new forecast by the World Bank, which also predicts that fish farms will provide nearly two-thirds of the world's fish supply.

The UN FAO is calling for a global ban on highly hazardous pesticides in developing countries.

UN group calls for pesticide ban

By Jenni Spinner

In the wake of contaminated lunches killing 23 children in India, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is calling for countries to step up efforts to ban use of deadly pesticides.

FAO praises 38 countries for halving hunger

FAO praises 38 countries for halving hunger

By Shane Starling

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says better nutrition targets to battle global hunger that affects 870 million people globally are being met in 38 countries.

Zinc  battling childhood diarrhoea in Nepal

Zinc battling childhood diarrhoea in Nepal

By Shane Starling

The United Nations is promoting the use of zinc supplements in Nepal to battle acute infant diarrhoea that kills 15,000 under-5s per year in the Himalayan state.

Spotlight

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Food & Beverage Trailblazers Podcast

F&B Trailblazers Podcast

Featured Suppliers

All