Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 12/9/15

Major food commodity prices fell in November, reversing about half their rise in the previous month, as the cost of internationally traded staples, except for sugar, fell.

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 156.7 points in November, down 1.6 percent from its revised October average, and 18 percent below its value a year earlier.

Conflict, adverse weather affect food security
Some 33 countries, including 26 in Africa, are in need of external assistance for food because of drought, flooding and the needs of people displaced by civil conflicts, according to FAO's Crop Prospects and Food Situation, released today.

Food insecurity has worsened due to conflict, notably in Syria and Yemen, but also in countries such as Niger, Cameroon, Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo that have taken in refugees from neighboring countries. The number of people in West Africa in a Phase 3 Crisis or above classification is forecast to rise to more than 10.7 million between June and August 2016, from around 8 million people now.

In East Africa, marked by a severe drought in Ethiopia as well as protracted conflicts, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance is estimated at 17 million, 50 percent higher than a year ago.

FAO now expects the 2015 regional output of coarse grains in Africa to drop by 12 percent to 67 million metric tons. Global coarse grain production for the year is projected to decline by 2 percent to 1.3 billion metric tons.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.