Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
381 million metric tons of total feed (in dry matter or grain equivalent tons) were used in agriculture in 1961, increasing to 1.585 billion metric tons in 2020 (USDA, 2024).
134% increase in global irrigated area between 1961 and 2020 (USDA, 2024).
More than 200 million workers left agriculture between 2003 and 2020 (USDA, 2024).
One-third of the global land area has been affected by land use changes since 1960, with phases of acceleration (1960-2005) and deceleration (2006-2019) in these changes (USDA, 2024).
4.2 times the global agricultural production volume increased between 1961 and 2020, while the world population grew 2.6 times during the same period (USDA, 2024).
40.2% is the share of agrifood employment (including trade and transportation) in total employment in the Americas (FAO, 2024).
3% of Mexican exports correspond to processed foods, a similar weight to that of primary agricultural products (3%) (de Olloqui & Fernández Díez, 2017).
4% of Uruguayan exports correspond to processed foods, compared to 28% in livestock and 30% in agricultural products (de Olloqui & Fernández Díez, 2017).
75% of agricultural production in the Latin America and Caribbean region is represented by Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico (de Olloqui & Fernández Díez, 2017).
