Day: July 16, 2025

FAO’s Publication on Food Outlook – Biannual Report on Global Food Markets: A Few Important Points

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad
Food is essential for the survival of all human beings. After the birth of a baby, the mother offers her milk. Food aids the body in building bones, maintaining muscle function and growth, facilitating breathing, producing energy, synthesizing hormones, and processing information in the brain. Everyone needs food, oxygen, and water for life. A few information from the “Food Outlook – Biannual report on global food markets published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2025”, are presented here so that academicians, research scholars, policy makers, and other stakeholders can use for academic activities.
The Food Outlook is a biannual publication (issued in June and November) that focuses on developments affecting global food commodity markets. FAO’s latest assessments indicate a relatively optimistic outlook for food commodity markets, with production and trade of all commodities, except sugar, anticipated to increase. However, this growth will have different impacts on stock recovery, influenced by the delicate balance between supply and demand. Global food commodity production remains vulnerable to weather conditions. Additionally, ongoing geopolitical tensions, uncertainties in policy developments, and potential retaliatory actions could negatively affect the trade outlook. In addition to market assessment, each edition contains a set of special features and market indicators.
A) Cereals: Forecast at 2,911 million tonnes, world cereal production (including rice in milled equivalent) is expected to reach a record level in 2025, surpassing the 2024 output by 2.1 percent. Production of all major cereals is anticipated to rise, with the most significant year-on-year increase (in percentage terms) forecast for maize and the smallest for wheat. Maize, rice, and sorghum outputs are all predicted to reach new record highs. World cereal utilization is forecast to increase by 0.8 percent in 2025/26, reaching 2,898 million tonnes. Global food consumption of cereals is predicted to grow by 0.9 percent from 2024/25, while feed use is forecast to expand by 0.5 percent, with increases expected for all major cereals. Other uses of cereals are projected to rise by 1.0 percent, primarily driven by increased demand for wheat and rice. With world cereal production expected to exceed utilization in 2025/26, world cereal stocks are predicted to expand by 1.0 percent (8.4 million tonnes) above their opening levels to 873.6 million tonnes.
B) Meat and meat products: World meat production is forecast to expand in 2025, albeit at a slower pace than in recent years, increasing by 0.6 percent year on year to reach 380 million tonnes (carcass weight equivalent). This growth will be primarily driven by an expected expansion in poultry meat output, while production of pig and ovine meats is expected to register only marginal increases. Global pig meat output is forecast to rise slightly, reflecting modest herd expansions. The global meat trade is forecast to grow by 1.3 percent in 2025, reaching 43 million tonnes —a significant slowdown compared to the estimated 4.7 percent growth in 2024.
C) Fish and other aquatic products: Output from fisheries and aquaculture is projected to rise by 2.9 million tonnes, or 1.5 percent, to 196.6 million tonnes in 2025, year-on-year. Aquaculture is forecast to expand by 2.6 percent to 104 million tonnes, mainly driven by recent harvests of warm-water shrimp and carp. The volume of capture fisheries is expected to edge up by only 0.3 percent to 92.6 million tonnes. Although the fishmeal supply has stabilized after strong catches of Peruvian anchoveta, fish oil supplies remain tight. The value of world trade in aquatic animal products is forecast to rise by 1.7 percent to USD 183.8 billion in 2025, while trade volumes are expected to increase by only 0.5 percent.
D) Milk and milk products
World milk production is forecast to reach 992.7 million tonnes in 2025, representing a 1.0 percent year-over-year increase and marking a second consecutive year of modest growth. Increases in Asia are expected to drive the global growth, driven by continued herd expansion and gradual productivity gains in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
Since the article is based on the FAO’s report, the data can be used in research papers as a credible source.

Creating a Solid Financial Foundation After Tax Debts

Embarking on a journey to establish a strong financial foundation can become challenging when you’re starting from a place of debt. Tax debts, in particular, can impact your overall financial health. This article explores the essential strategies for clearing tax debts, improving your credit score, and building a reliable financial plan for the future. After employing smart budgeting, savings, and planning techniques, you can move toward a secure financial standing. Continue reading to gain insight into creating a steadfast financial future.

Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

Understanding Tax Debits: The Starting Point for Financial Recovery

Tax debts can accumulate due to various reasons, including unpaid income taxes, penalties, or interest. These debts typically carry the burden of additional fines, which can exacerbate financial strain. To effectively address the issue, one must first fully comprehend the nature and scope of their tax liabilities.

Facing tax debts requires obtaining a clear and detailed account of what’s owed. This involves reviewing past federal tax returns, contacting the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or seeking assistance from experts who specialize in tax counseling and tax relief in Texas. Understanding your debt provides the foundation for negotiating payment plans or exploring debt forgiveness options, if available.

Negotiating with the IRS can be a daunting task, but there are programs such as Offers in Compromise (OIC) or installment agreements that can provide relief to taxpayers. These programs help reduce the total debt amount or break down the debt into manageable monthly payments. Program eligibility will depend on your financial situation and tax history.

Long-Term Financial Planning With Tax Efficiency in Mind

Long-term financial planning is another key to solidifying your financial well-being for the years to come. This process involves setting financial goals, such as retirement savings, education funds, or investing in property, and crafting a plan to achieve them. It’s imperative to approach these goals with tax efficiency in mind, as strategic planning can minimize tax liabilities and maximize returns on investments.

Consider consulting with the best financial advisors in Lehi UT, who can provide expert guidance on tax-efficient strategies. Their knowledge extends to retirement accounts, investment portfolios, and other financial products that benefit from favorable tax treatment. Leveraging this type of expertise, you can craft a financial plan that meets your retirement goals and also optimizes your tax situation for the future.

Strategies To Clear Tax Debts and Improve Credit Score

Did you know that unresolved tax debts can lead to liens, which negatively affect your credit history? One potential strategy to clear tax debts is through lump-sum payments, which can eliminate the debt and stop the accrual of interest and penalties. If this isn’t possible for you, installment agreements allow for smaller, manageable monthly payments. During this period, it’s essential to maintain consistency in payments to demonstrate financial responsibility and rebuild your creditworthiness.

Another important aspect is regularly monitoring your credit report for inaccuracies or outdated information related to tax debts. Errors on credit reports are common, and you must take proactive steps to correct them to improve your credit score. Monitoring should become a routine part of your financial maintenance. Once your tax debts are resolved, stay vigilant with future tax obligations to prevent falling back into debt.

Smart Budgeting Techniques After Settling Tax Debts

After addressing tax debts, smart budgeting practices become vital to prevent falling into debt again. Creating a realistic and comprehensive budget is the first step. This budget should account for all income sources, fixed expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, variable expenses including utilities and groceries, as well as savings initiatives like your emergency fund.

Use budgeting techniques such as the 50/30/20 rule. Allocate 50% of income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and debt repayment. This provides a structured approach to managing finances. You can also tailor these percentages to your specific circumstances. For some, increasing the percentage allotted to savings or debt repayment might be necessary for building stronger financial stability.

Regularly reviewing and adjusting your budget is crucial, as financial situations can change. Unexpected promotions, additional expenses, or shifts in financial goals may require a rebalancing of your budget to reflect your current situation. Being flexible and responsive to these changes ensures that your budget remains an effective tool for financial management.

Overall, the principles of financial recovery and stability are universal, even when starting from the challenging position of clearing tax debts. With a strategic approach to understanding and resolving debt, coupled with sensible budgeting and vigilant long-term planning, anyone can create a solid foundation for their financial future.