Introduction

While showing a wide variety of regional and country experiences, the world food and agricultural situation in 1986 was broadly framed by two opposing features. On the one hand, there was a marked improvement in some important aspects of food security: more developing countries achieved gains in per caput food output than in the preceding five years, several heavily populated countries consolidated their food supply situations, and food supply conditions also eased in some critical areas, notably in Africa. On the other hand, for some industrial countries, expanded availability of food and agricultural products was a mixed blessing in the context of an oversupply of many agricultural commodities, mounting stocks, depressed prices, deteriorating farm incomes, despite rising costs of agricultural programmes, and increasing protectionism in agricultural trade.

Sustainable Development Goals:

No Poverty

Responsible Consumption and Production

Decent Work and Economic Growth