A World Bank report has warned that food security continues to be at alarming levels in most low-income countries, particularly in Africa with an estimated 61.6 million food-insecure people in East Africa and that nearly 50 million people are projected to face food insecurity in
Domestic food price inflation remains high in many low-income countries.Information from the latest month between October 2024 and January 2025 for which food price inflation data are available shows that inflation higher than five per cent is experienced in 73.7 per cent of low-income countries.
The report revealed that in real terms food price inflation exceeded overall inflation in 56 per cent of the 164 countries where data is available.
“Since our January 2025 update, agricultural and export price indices have risen, closing at three per cent and six per cent higher, respectively. The cereal price index closed at the same level. Maize and wheat prices closed three per cent and five per cent higher, respectively,” said the WB report, a copy of which was made available to The Egyptian Gazette.
According to the February 2025 edition of the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Market Monitor, global prices of AMIS crops (wheat, maize, rice, and soybeans) are currently lower than they were a year ago, with the exception of maize, where international export prices reached a 15-month peak amid supply concerns.
The WB’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, released in January 2025, warned of persistent economic stagnation, with global growth projected to hold at 2.7 per cent through 2026.
Although this signals some stability, it falls short of driving meaningful poverty reduction or tackling rising food and nutrition insecurity in low-income countries. The report underscores how persistent challenges—high inflation, mounting debt, and trade disruptions—are exacerbating food insecurity for the world’s most vulnerable.
The global food crisis has been partially made worse by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the growing number of food and fertilizer trade restrictions put in place by countries with a goal of increasing domestic supply and reducing prices. As of February 2025, seventeen countries have implemented 22 food export bans, and eight have implemented 12 export-limiting measures.
