Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
35 % of the cultivated area in Latin America and the Caribbean is devoted to soybeans, followed by corn (22.7 %), sugar (7.5 %), wheat (6.2 %), beans (3.6 %), coffee (3 %), rice (2.6 %), other soybeans (2.1 %) and other crops (17 %) (FAO, 2023).
More than 70% of the agricultural area in Latin America and the Caribbean is in the hands of medium and large producers (Salcedo and Guzmán, 2014).
30 million tons of inorganic fertilizers were used in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020, of which 78% was imported from other regions of the world (FAO, 2023).
Between 21% and 35% of total emissions generated by human activity are the result of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (OECD, 2021).
5% of GDP and 18% of employment in Latin America and the Caribbean come from agriculture (CEPALSTAT, 2023).
Between 0.1% and 1% of real GDP in the US and Europe would be affected by friendshoring, with a higher impact of up to 4.7% in countries in between the West and its adversaries (IMF, 2023).
14% of cereals and 4.5% of soybeans traded globally pass through the Suez Canal.
Nearly 40% of jobs worldwide will be affected by AI, either replacing or complementing them, requiring a balance of policies to harness its potential (IMF, 2024).
USD 250 billion were the global losses from natural disasters in 2023, with earthquakes in Turkey and Syria costing the most and a significant increase in fatalities (Munich Re).
540 billion dollars are spent annually on producer support, two-thirds of which distort prices and damage the environment (FAO, UNDP and UNEP, 2021).
