Global food prices set to stagnate as population growth slows

LONDON — Food prices will stagnate over the next decade as the population growth rate declines and income expansion in emerging economies slows.

Food costs will stabilize at a level slightly higher than in the years before the 2007- 08 price spike, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations’ Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a joint report.

Population growth, the main driver of food prices, will slow to one percent annually through 2025, the organizations said.

Global food costs more than doubled since 2000 as population expanded and rising incomes meant more demand for meat, which usually costs more than grains and oilseeds, FAO data showed. Costs reached a record in 2011, prompting Cargill, Inc. — one of the world’s largest crop traders — to call the end of an era of falling agricultural commodity prices.

“Global population growth, the main driver of demand increases, is declining, while income growth in emerging economies is projected to be weaker,” the OECD and FAO said.

“At the same time, consumers, especially in populous emerging economies, show a declining propensity to spend income gains on consuming more basic foodstuffs.”

A gauge of agricultural commodity prices declined in the past three years in the longest slump since 2001. The Bloomberg Agriculture Subindex rebounded 12% this year on concern adverse weather would reduce soybean crops in South America at a time El Niñoinduced dryness slashed cane crops in Asia, sending global sugar prices into a bull market.

With global food supplies set to match demand in the 10 years to 2025, prices will stagnate once inflation is excluded, according to the report.

Global cereal production is projected to grow 12% by 2025, driven by yield improvements, while usage is projected to expand 14%.

In nominal terms, agricultural commodity prices will rise as oil is forecast to increase to $83.20 a barrel in 2025 from $39.30 a barrel, the organizations said.

“Global demand growth varies between commodities, but overall is projected to be slower than in the previous decade,” according to the report.

“With overall market growth projected to slow, agricultural trade is expected to expand at about half the rate of the previous decade.”

PROTEIN PRODUCTS

Demand growth for meat, fish and dairy products will grow “relatively strongly,” boosting the need for coarse grains such as corn and protein meals including soybean meal, this year’s bestperforming commodity, the organizations said.

Lower energy prices and more “conservative” policies in many countries will mean crop demand for biofuels production will remain little-changed.

Global food demand will be met mainly by an advance in productivity, with yield improvements expected to account for 80% of crop output increases, according to the report. The OECD and FAO expect “modest” gains in crop area and livestock herds.

“There is some scope to increase agricultural area sustainably, mainly in parts of Latin America and sub- Saharan Africa,” the organizations said. “The majority of the new crop area in Africa will be dedicated to cereals, while the expansion in Latin America is focused on soybeans.” — Bloomberg