Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
21% is the average reduction in wheat yields caused by mild drought conditions; rice yields decrease by 17% on average.
USD 1.1 billion in estimated economic losses were recorded for California's agricultural sector during the 2021 drought.
3 billion additional people could be exposed to water stress by 2050 when water quality is incorporated into water scarcity assessments.
21% of the world's inland wetlands has been lost since 1700, representing approximately 3.4 million km².
It increased by 6.6% compared to the level in April 2026. It averaged 95.1 points in May 2026. (FAO, 2026). The increase is due to a possible shortage of supplies in the coming months (a possible lower sugar production in Brazil and possible effects of El Niño on sugar production in India and Thailand in 2026/27).
It decreased by 0.2% compared to the revised level of April 2026. It averaged 130.8 points in May 2026. (FAO, 2026).
It increased by 2.6% compared to the level of April 2026. It averaged 114.3 points in May 2026. The increase reflected lower expected harvests in major exporters, and higher fuel and fertilizer costs. (FAO, 2026).
US$9 billion went to new research into boosting farm yields, up from US$2.5 billion in 2016.
1.3% of global early-stage venture-capital funding was attracted by agricultural technology companies in 2024.
4% of global GDP is roughly accounted for by agriculture, above the 1.3% share of global early-stage venture-capital funding attracted by agtech companies in 2024.
