The EU: the great agro-food exporter

The EU remains the world's leading agro-food exporter (€120 billion in exports). It is also the world's largest importer of agricultural products, but has enjoyed an agricultural trade surplus since 2010: more goes out than comes in. Last year's surplus is pegged at €18.6 billion.

South Africa recorded a high growth rate in exports to the EU in 2013, mainly with fruits and wine.

Only 2.8% of EU agro-food imports are from least developed countries (LDCs), but the figure is larger than that the LDC exports to Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan combined.

Up to now, Russia has been the second biggest export market for the EU (developing countries are the EU's number one market). We are yet to see what the damage will be as a result of the recent volley of sanctions. An interesting chart accompanies the report Which foods are off Russian menus on CNN.

Find the European Commission report Agricultural trade in 2013: EU gains in commodity exports.

The value of the African fish

For those of you who may have missed it, The Value of African Fish on the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) website provides a fascinating read.

The fisheries sector in Africa employs around 2.1 per cent of her population. About 7.5% of these work with aquaculture, 42.2% are processors and the rest are fishers.

But here is the interesting thing:

Non-African countries account for 25% of marine catches around Africa. This is worth (in theory) "US$3.3 billion, which is eight times higher than the current US$0.4 billion African countries earn from fisheries agreements." Is this another example of the continent exporting jobs?

The aquaculture in The Agri Handbook can be accessed here.

R3-million research fund launched in the Western Cape

The Western Cape's alternative crops received a boost this week when the provincial government announced the launch of a R3-million research fund to run for this financial year.

The aim is to strengthen exports and land reform around these crops which include berries, fynbos, honeybush and pomegranates. They are export-orientated and have high market value.

Find the media release here.

Agriculture and Africa's challenges

Africa's leaders placed agriculture high on the agenda at the African Union Heads of State and Government assembly last month by signing the Malabo Declaration.

Included in the Declaration is:

• A call for governments to recommit to the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). The CAADP calls on countries to commit 10% of their national budgets to agriculture.  
• An undertaking to increase both public and private investment finance in agriculture

Agriculture holds out a solution for a number of the challenges affecting Africa, specifically food security and youth unemployment.

We know the theory; can we put it into practice?

Africa and agriculture is the opening chapter in the 2013/14 edition of The Agri Handbook. Find it here.

Russian counter-sanctions to hit European farmers

In the news tonight, Russia has banned the import of agricultural produce from countries that have imposed sanctions on it.

This is bad news for European farmers. Russia has been an important market for agricultural produce. Although the ban will affect all EU countries and the US, Polish fruit, vegetables and pig meat and Dutch fruit and vegetables will suffer the greatest impact.

It is acknowledged that the move may cause food prices to rise. Find the UK's The Guardian report here and BBC's here. For a look at what's being said on "the other side" (always a good idea) find what RT has to say here.

US-Africa Leaders Summit: music to the ears?

Heads of state of most African countries will be in Washington DC August 4-6 for the US-Africa Leaders Summit and so will some of Africa’s top musicians who plan to entertain with a message. Find the story on AFKInsider here.

Briefly, the ONE Campaign launched “Do Agric” in January to support the 2014 Year of Agriculture proclaimed by the African Union (AU). Growth in agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa today is estimated to be 11 times more powerful at reducing poverty than growth in other sectors such as mining and utilities.

Take a look at the story on ONE’s report, “Ripe for Change: The Promise of Africa’s Agricultural Transformation” here along with the link to download it.

Let the music play!