PARIS: Natural and man-made disasters have caused $3.8 trillion in crop and livestock losses over 30 years, the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said on Friday. Average annual grain losses hit 69 million tons, the equivalent of France's annual production. Some 40 million tons of fruit and vegetable production was lost and 16 million tons of meat, dairy and eggs. Asia is the worst-hit region, sustaining 45 percent of total agricultural losses due to disasters, and losing the equivalent of 4 percent of its agricultural output. Moreover, it was extremely cost-effective, with each dollar invested in prevention measures resulted in $15 of avoided crop losses.

Source: Manila Times October 14, 2023 16:19 UTC