Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
The 1.4% annual growth in agricultural productivity in the OECD between 1991 and 2000 was reduced to 0.85% between 2011 and 2021 (OECD, 2024).
79% of positive support to agriculture in 2021-23 was provided by China (37%), the United States (15%), India (14%) and the European Union (13%) (OECD, 2024).
Around 3.4 billion people, 45 percent of the global population, live in rural areas of developing countries, and most depend on smallholder farms for their livelihoods and sustenance (IFAD, n.d.).
Food value chains support 800 million livelihoods, mostly in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture (Blue Food Assessment, 2021).
Agriculture accounts for 4 percent of the global gross domestic producto (GDP) and in some least developing countries it can account for more than 25 percent of GDP (Blue Food Assessment, 2021).
40% of the global workforce in primary industries (agriculture, forestry and fisheries) is represented by food value chains (UNDP, 2024).
Two to four times more effective than other interventions, agricultural development is a powerful tool for eradicating poverty and boosting shared prosperity, especially among the poorest (UNDP, 2024).
258 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022, in the 10 countries most affected by fragile and crisis contexts (OECD, 2022).
2.4% is the gender gap in global food insecurity in 2022, with a greater impact on women than men, although the effects of the pandemic have shown signs of easing (SOFI 2023 Report).
80% of deforestation, 70% of biodiversity loss and 70% of freshwater use are caused by food systems (WWF, 2022).
