Latest news with #UNFAO
Borneo Post
29-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Possible delay in EUDR, but major players prepared
The lawmakers have proposed to delay the EUDR, which is scheduled to take effect on 30 December 2025. — AFP photo KUCHING (July 29): In July 2025, the European Parliament driven mainly by right-wing party members, backed a motion which objects to the European Commission's deforestation risk country list for European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The lawmakers have proposed to delay the EUDR, which is scheduled to take effect on 30 December 2025. In addition, Austria and France have proposed a fourth risk classification, negligible risk, to add on to existing classifications which are low risk, standard risk and high risk. Malaysia has been classified as standard risk. In spite of the European Parliamentís proposals, analysts with AmInvestment Bank Bhd (AmInvestment Bank) noted that the European Commission has no obligation to act on the vote. 'The above development arose as the country risk classification has drawn the ire of some lawmakers. This is because it is not based on updated information and certain countries, which have significant deforestation activities, were classified as standard risk instead of high risk,' it said in a note yesterday. The last structural Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (UN FAO) data update from agricultural census took place in April 2025, while the next dataset will be released in March 2026. This can be used to review the country risk classification for 2026. Recall that Malaysia said that EUís classification of standard risk was based on a 2020 UN FAO report, which is outdated. To note, Mondelez wants EUDR to be delayed by a year but not others. Meanwhile, Nestle, Danone and Ferrero would like EUDR to be implemented according to the schedule. An official with Mondelez said that more than a million farmers in Ivory Coast produce cocoa but less than 20 per cent have EUDR-mandated traceability cards. The group also said that the cocoa sector is under pressure due to soaring prices and declining production. On the other hand, Nestle said that a delay in the EUDR would worsen legal uncertainties, increase operational costs and create confusion. A delay would also send a contradictory message to consumers as demand for transparency and sustainability are reaching unprecedented levels. 'We believe that the major palm producers are prepared for EUDR,' AmInvestment Bank noted. 'As mentioned in a previous report, the large palm producers in Malaysia and Indonesia such as SD Guthrie and Golden Agri Resources are prepared for EUDR. 'Companies like SD Guthrie and KL Kepong have been sending trial shipments of EUDR-compliant palm products since last year. As for smallholders, who are not compliant, we believe that they can sell their products to other markets such as Turkey or Middle East instead of the EU.' deforestation European Union Deforestation Regulation united nations
Khaleej Times
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Khaleej Times
Syria: Residential areas evacuated by rescuers amid major forest fires
Syrian rescuers evacuated residential areas in Latakia province because of major forest fires, authorities said on Friday. Fires have spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and a drought. Abdulkafi Kayyal, director of the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia province, told the state SANA news agency that fires in the Qastal Maaf area had moved close to several villages, prompting the evacuations. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Syria's civil defence warned residents of "the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas." "Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside," the civil defence added, calling on citizens to report anyone they suspect of starting fires. Syrian minister of emergency situations and disasters Raed al-Saleh said on X that he was following events and "we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires". With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has been battered by heatwaves, low rainfall and major forest fires. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation told AFP that Syria had "not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years", noting that an unprecedented drought was on course to push more than 16 million people into food insecurity. The country is also reeling from more than a decade of civil war leading up to the end of the iron-fisted rule of Bashar Al Assad in December. Kayyal said the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance was hindering the work of rescuers, along with strong winds spreading the fires.
Al Arabiya
05-07-2025
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Syrian authorities evacuate citizens amid major forest fires
Syrian rescuers evacuated residential areas in Latakia province because of major forest fires, authorities said on Friday. Fires have been spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and drought. Abdulkafi Kayyal, director of the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia province, told the state SANA news agency that fires in the Qastal Maaf area had moved close to several villages, prompting the evacuations. Syria's civil defense warned residents of 'the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas.' 'Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside,' the civil defense added, calling on citizens to report anyone they suspect of starting fires. Syrian Minister of Emergency Situations and Disasters Raed al-Saleh said on X that he was following events and 'we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires.' With human-driven climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has been battered by heatwaves, low rainfall, and major forest fires. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization told AFP that Syria had 'not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years,' noting that an unprecedented drought was on course to push more than 16 million people into food insecurity. The country is also reeling from more than a decade of civil war leading up to the end of the iron-fisted rule of Bashar al-Assad in December. Kayyal said the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance was hindering the work of rescuers, along with strong winds spreading the fires.
Arab News
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Syrian authorities evacuate citizens amid major forest fires
DAMASCUS: Syrian rescuers evacuated residential areas in Latakia province because of major forest fires, authorities said on Friday. Fires have spreading across large parts of Syria, particularly on the coast, for several days, with firefighters struggling to control them due to strong winds and a drought. Abdulkafi Kayyal, director of the Directorate of Disasters and Emergencies in Latakia province, told the state SANA news agency that fires in the Qastal Maaf area had moved close to several villages, prompting the evacuations. Syria's civil defense warned residents of 'the spread of rising smoke emissions to the northern section of the coastal mountains, the city of Hama, its countryside, and southern Idlib areas.' 'Our teams recorded losses in the orchards due to the widespread spread of the forest fire in several areas of the Latakia countryside,' the civil defense added, calling on citizens to report anyone they suspect of starting fires. Syrian minister of emergency situations and disasters Raed Al-Saleh said on X that he was following events and 'we will exert our utmost efforts to combat these fires.' With man-made climate change increasing the likelihood and intensity of droughts and wildfires worldwide, Syria has been battered by heatwaves, low rainfall and major forest fires. In June, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization told AFP that Syria had 'not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years,' noting that an unprecedented drought was on course to push more than 16 million people into food insecurity. The country is also reeling from more than a decade of civil war leading up to the end of the iron-fisted rule of Bashar Assad in December. Kayyal said the presence of mines and unexploded ordnance was hindering the work of rescuers, along with strong winds spreading the fires.
Arab News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
World food prices tick higher in June, led by meat and vegetable oils
PARIS: Global food commodity prices edged higher in June, supported by higher meat, vegetable oil and dairy prices, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has said. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in a basket of internationally traded food commodities, averaged 128 points in June, up 0.5 percent from May. The index stood 5.8 percent higher than a year ago, but remained 20.1 percent below its record high in March 2022. The cereal price index fell 1.5 percent to 107.4 points, now 6.8 percent below a year ago, as global maize prices dropped sharply for a second month. Larger harvests and more export competition from Argentina and Brazil weighed on maize, while barley and sorghum also declined. Wheat prices, however, rose due to weather concerns in Russia, the EU, and the US. The vegetable oil price index rose 2.3 percent from May to 155.7 points, now 18.2 percent above its June 2024 level, led by higher palm, rapeseed, and soy oil prices. Palm oil climbed nearly 5 percent from May on strong import demand, while soy oil was supported by expectations of higher demand from the biofuel sector following announcements of supportive policy measures in Brazil and the US. Sugar prices dropped 5.2 percent from May to 103.7 points, the lowest since April 2021, reflecting improved supply prospects in Brazil, India, and Thailand. Meat prices rose to a record 126.0 points, now 6.7 percent above June 2024, with all categories rising except poultry. Bovine meat set a new peak, reflecting tighter supplies from Brazil and strong demand from the US. Poultry prices continued to fall due to abundant Brazilian supplies. The dairy price index edged up 0.5 percent from May to 154.4 points, marking a 20.7 percent annual increase. In a separate report, the FAO forecast global cereal production in 2025 at a record 2.925 billion tonnes, 0.5 percent above its previous projection and 2.3 percent above the previous year. The outlook could be affected by expected hot, dry conditions in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly for maize with plantings almost complete.
