FAO Calls For Immediate Action Regarding Sustainability Goals
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FAO Calls For Immediate Action Regarding Sustainability Goals

Photo by:   Rod Long, Unsplash
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Sofía Hanna By Sofía Hanna | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Thu, 12/16/2021 - 11:26

This week in Agribusiness & Food, Mexican exports and imports reached a surplus for the seventh consecutive year, with the main contributors being beverages, vegetables and fruits. Meanwhile, FAO publishes reports that show the current state of natural resources and how current activities can be dangerous to reaching sustainability goals. 

 

 Interested in more? Here are the week’s major headlines in Agribusiness & Food!

 

Agri-Food Trade Balance Registers Surplus

This is the seventh consecutive year in which Mexico’s agricultural and agro-industrial trade balance presents a surplus. The sector reached a total of US$36.4 billion in exports and US$30.7 billion in imports. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) highlighted that it is the third highest positive balance in 27 years, while the value of agri-food exports from Mexico in October was the highest reported in 29 years. The food groups that contributed the most to these high levels were beverages, vegetables and fruits as they accounted for more than 61 percent of total exports, with a 23, 19 and 19 percent participation, respectively.

 

Sustainable Tourism: Opportunity for Prosperity, Inclusion 

FAO announces through a new study that sustainable tourism plays an essential role in promoting livelihoods, reducing poverty and conserving the natural environment of mountainous areas. “For many mountain communities, tourism is a way of life. Promoting sustainable ecotourism, agritourism and wellness tourism can help to create new jobs, diversify income, build strong microeconomics and revitalize depopulated areas through local products and services,” said QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO. The work being done by many members of the Mountain Partnership and the UNWTO Member States was highlighted to ensure that mountain communities are not left behind, in line with the spirit of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

 

FAO Warns About the State of Land and Water Resources 

According to FAO, land and water resources are under pressure after suffering severe deterioration in the last decade. “The current models of agri-food production are not proving sustainable. However, agri-food systems can be instrumental in alleviating these pressures and positively contributing to achieving climate and development goals,” Dongyu said. The report states that if we continue on the current path, producing the 50 percent more food that we need could lead to an increase in the extraction of water for agriculture of up to 35 percent. This could create environmental catastrophes, increase competition for resources and lead to new social problems and conflicts. 

Photo by:   Rod Long, Unsplash

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