The key to the global soybean market is China, which consumes 60% of world exports, and it is very likely to continue growing.
An article by Bloomberg News reports that "soybean purchases by China, which buys more than 60% of global exports, are heading towards depleting North American reserves and reducing the amount available to importers in Southeast Asia, said the American Soybean Association, ASA"
In 2011, Panama shipped abroad 369,286 tons of banana worth $88.14 million, at an average price of $238 per ton.
CentralAmericaData's reports about exports of Agricultural Products allow an in-depth study of the production and commercialization of these goods in each country. They enable easy analysis of production trends and patterns, identifying and monitoring the main players, products and target countries, as well as analyzing price trends.
As of July 1 it will be mandatory to use a logo for organic foods in the European Union (EU) for all pre-packaged foods.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Office reads:
The European Union has declared the mandatory use of logos for organic food
From July 1 use of a logo for organic foods in the European Union (EU) will be mandatory for all prepackaged food products produced in EU member countries.
Encouraged by the prospect of higher prices due to a reduced harvest in other regions, two Nicaraguan sugar producers want to increase their sugarcane growing areas by 5,000 hectares.
The Montelimar and Benjamin Zeledon mills want to buy up to 5,000 additional hectares of land to grow sugarcane in the 2012-2013 cycle, which would allow production to increase to 14 million quintals, according to estimates.
The price of a quintal has fallen below $200 due to a Brazilian "superharvest", with industry leaders recommending caution.
On Tuesday March 6th a quintal of coffee traded at $192.95 on the New York Stock Exchange, down 4.24%, lower again than at the beginning of the week when it was recorded at $201.5.
A report by the National Coffee Association (Anacafe) of Guatemala said, "This fall began in London, due to liquidation by speculators and domestic sales."
Unlike other sectors of Panama's dynamic economy, agriculture has not progressed in the last decade.
In the last 10 years, the number of hectares devoted to agriculture has reduced by 70,687, while the number of producers has only increased by 6% to a total of 246,820.
Meanwhile, food imports are now twice that of domestic production, for example in the case of products such as corn or rice.
After the European court decision restricting the marketing of honey with residues of transgenic pollen, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food has announced a monitoring plan.
The monitoring plan will begin in January 2012, the results of the report will be presented in April and according to the methodology the work will include 45 samples from apiaries in Solola, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos, 30 more in Escuintla, Retalhuleu and Huehuetenango, 20 from Jutiapa, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango, and 10 from Petén, Alta and Baja Verapaz, El Progreso, Chiquimula, Jutiapa, Guatemala and Quiche.
The Sugar Association of El Salvador expects an 8.8% increase in the 2011/12 harvest, as compared to the previous cycle.
Producers and refineries anticipate production to total 625,000 metric tons of sugar and 210,000 of molasses, a considerable increase on the previous cycle, when there were 574,000 tons of sugar and 197,000 of molasses.
The union said that the plantations were not greatly affected by the rains, but that there was some damage to the road infrastructure they use.
The National Assembly has approved the Ministry of Agriculture’s budget increase for the purchase of seeds for planting beans and corn.
With 71 votes, the Legislature approved the favorable vote of the Treasury and Budget Commission, to empower the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock with the special temporary provisions to ensure an adequate supply of seeds for beans and corn, as well as the materials required for their production.
In Costa Rica, October’s excessive rain has caused losses of $2.5 million in the sector.
Abel Chaves, president of the Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters (Canapep in Spanish) explained that the losses include damage to plantations, delays in the preparation of crop areas, damage to farm infrastructure (bridges, canals and roads) and increases in transportation costs to ports of embarkation.
Experiences in trying to obtain self-produced grains at affordable prices for the population have been real disasters, with China being the best example.
A draft Law for the Approval of the National Integrated Rural Development of Guatemala proposes that "food security be based on the production of basic grain, under the concept of autarky, defined as food sovereignty, i.e.
The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas: A perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean 2011-2012.
ECLAC, FAO and IICA press release:
San Jose, Costa Rica, October 21 (ECLAC/FAO/IICA). Despite the current context of volatility and high food prices, in the long term, the agricultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will be able to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by having available land - albeit concentrated in a few countries- a relative abundance of water, biodiversity and well-educated human resources.
The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas: A perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean 2011-2012.
ECLAC, FAO and IICA press release:
San Jose, Costa Rica, October 21 (ECLAC/FAO/IICA). Despite the current context of volatility and high food prices, in the long term, the agricultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will be able to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by having available land - albeit concentrated in a few countries- a relative abundance of water, biodiversity and well-educated human resources.
Within the Ministry of Agriculture’s investment plans for 2012 is the construction of an irrigation system in the Tonosí Valley.
$32 million have been earmarked for this project in the province of Los Santos and the preparations at the sterile fly production plant in Pacora, while the 2012 budget has increased by 35% compared to 2011.
According to an article in Prensa.com, "However, despite the increased funding, producers are skeptical about its use, because most of the projects planned in the past have ended up only existing on paper.
The agri-industry is requesting an import quota of 660,000 quintals of rice, farmers will only accept 240,000.
The country's rice production will not be enough to meet demand, meaning that rice must be bought from abroad, creating rifts between producers and manufacturers about how much should be imported duty free.
The producers say the national deficit will be 10.891 tons, while agribusinesses consider it necessary to buy 30,000 metric tons.