Reading Time: 2 minutes Global food commodity prices declined in May, driven by marked drops in cereal, sugar, and vegetable oil prices, the United Nations's Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

World food prices dip in May as cereal, sugar and vegoils drop
FAO forecasts record global cereal production in 2025

UN peacekeepers guard Congolese farmers working their fields
Reading Time: 2 minutes Under a scorching sun in Democratic Republic of Congo, many of the farmers tending to their fields in the troubled eastern region are guarded by United Nations peacekeepers.

World food prices reach 19-month high in November, UN says
Reading Time: < 1 minute The United Nations' world food price index rose in November to its highest level since April 2023, recording its biggest gain in 19 months on the back of surging vegetable oil prices, data showed on Friday.

World food prices reach 18-month high in October, UN says
Reading Time: 2 minutes World food prices rose in October to an 18-month high as vegetable oils led increases seen in most food staples, United Nations' data showed on Friday.

World food prices rebound from three-year low, says UN agency
Reading Time: 2 minutes World food prices rebounded in March from a three-year low, boosted by increases in vegetable oils, meat and dairy products, according to the United Nations food agency's latest price index.

Ukraine could fail to meet future wheat demand if attacks continue, UN agency warns
Report shows 31 attacks on grain facilities since mid-July
Reading Time: 2 minutes United Nations | Reuters — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that Ukraine’s wheat production may be unable to meet domestic and export demand in the years to come if Black Sea export routes remain blocked and attacks on food infrastructure continue. WFP’s Ukraine director, Matthew Hollingworth, said a forthcoming report […] Read more

U.N. held talks in Russia on Monday on grain, fertilizer exports
'Unimpeded access' sought for Ukrainian, Russian grain
Reading Time: 2 minutes United Nations | Reuters — Top United Nations trade official Rebeca Grynspan met with Russian officials in Moscow on Monday for talks aimed at enabling the “unimpeded access” to global markets for grain and fertilizer from Russia and Ukraine, a U.N. spokesperson said. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths also attended the meetings virtually, U.N. spokesperson […] Read more

UN rapporteur calls Canada’s TFW system ‘breeding ground for modern slavery’
Tomoya Obokata says government needs to better protect worker rights and provide better residency path
Reading Time: 3 minutes A United Nations special rapporteur on modern slavery has called out Canada’s temporary foreign worker (TFW) programs, including those in the agriculture sector. Tomoya Obokata, who was appointed by the UN’s Human Rights Council, spoke in Ottawa Sept. 6 following a 14-day visit to Canada. He called the programs “a breeding ground for contemporary forms […] Read more

Russian Agricultural Bank could have SWIFT access within 30 days, U.N. tells Moscow
Russia seeking 'actual exemptions' from sanctions
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reuters — A Russian Agricultural Bank subsidiary in Luxembourg could immediately apply to SWIFT to “effectively enable access” for the bank to the international payments system within 30 days, the United Nations told Russia in a letter, seen by Reuters on Friday. “SWIFT has confirmed that RSHB Capital S.A. would be eligible to apply for […] Read more

UN working on guarantees for Russia to restore grain deal, Moscow skeptical
Bombing of Ukraine ports, grain facilities erodes other partners' goodwill, Guterres says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The United Nations is “actively engaged” in trying to improve Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports in a bid to convince Moscow to again allow the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday. “We believe that it’s necessary to create a system of mutual guarantee,” Guterres told reporters on […] Read more