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Converging Patterns in Global Food Consumption and Food Delivery Systems (February 2008) reports that across countries and income levels worldwide, consumers are choosing to spend their additional income on some combination of increased quality, convenience, and variety of foods. Food delivery systems and consumption patterns in middle-income countries like China and Thailand are converging, or "catching up" to countries with higher income levels. Income growth has been a primary force behind converging global consumption patterns, but globalization of the food industry is also contributing. For the full report, see Convergence in Global Food Demand and Delivery (March 2008).
Indian Wheat and Rice Sector Policies and
the Implications of Reform (May 2007) suggests that future developments in
India’s food grain sector will be shaped by how policies adapt to
the sector’s new economic environment. Some changes, such as reducing
price supports and the scope of government food grain operations, would
likely cut government costs, benefit consumers, allow a larger private
sector role in the domestic market, and increase reliance on trade.
Demand for Food Quantity and Quality in China (January 2007) reports
that, as incomes rise, Chinese consumers are changing their diets and demanding
greater quality, convenience, and safety in food. The demand for quality by
high-income households has fueled recent growth in China’s food retail sector,
but the food market is becoming segmented as disparities in income widen.
Global
Agriculture and the Doha Round: Market Access Is the
Key (September 2006) reports that increasing market access by lowering
tariffs has been shown to produce the greatest share
of benefits from agricultural trade liberalization.
Nonetheless, reducing high agricultural tariffs remains
a sticking point in the Doha Round of trade talks.
U.S.
Dairy at a New Crossroads in a Global Setting
(November 2005) highlights changing economic and policy forces facing
the U.S. dairy industry today. As dairy markets evolve,
U.S. milk producers and processors are in a position
to pursue both domestic and export market opportunities.
For the full report, see U.S.
Dairy at a Global Crossroads (November 2006).
A
Revolution in Food Retailing Underway in the Asia-Pacific
Region (June 2006) reports that rapid economic growth and urbanization
are transforming the retail food sector in the developing
economies of the Asia-Pacific region. Expanding modern
chain stores are offering consumers lower prices, greater
convenience, and higher quality and safer food in increasingly
complex, often congested, urban markets. They are also
forcing domestic marketing channels and food producers
to adapt and modernize.
The Role of Policy and
Industry Structure in India's Oilseed Markets
(April 2006) reports that rising incomes in India are likely to lead
to continued strong growth in that country's demand
for oils and oil meals. Extensive policy intervention
affects Indian oilseed production, trade, and processing.
Current high tariffs on oilseeds and oil are of little
benefit to Indian producers while imposing high costs
on consumers. Policy reform, particularly liberalization
of oilseed imports, could improve producer and consumer
welfare and have a significant impact on trade.
Commercialization of Food
Consumption in Rural China (July 2005) finds that rural households
rely on self-produced commodities, especially grains and
vegetables, for a large share of the food they consume.
However, as incomes rise and markets develop, rural households
are purchasing more of their food from markets.
Processed
Food Trade Pressured by Evolving Global Supply Chains
(February 2005) reports that many factors affect the choice of locations
to produce and sell food products. Patterns of food trade
are strongly influenced by the changing nature of competition
in the global food industry—from shifting consumer
preferences to the growth in multinational food retailers
and the ways they manage their global supply chains. Consumer-driven
changes are increasingly pushing food suppliers to meet
consumer demand and preferences at a local level, even
as the food industry becomes more global.
New Directions in Global
Food Markets (February 2005) describes how consumer preferences drive
changes in global food supply chains, including the growth
in private-label sales and expansion of multinational
retailers and manufacturers in developing countries. This,
in turn, can lead to local processing of some food products
rather than an increase in overall food trade.
Market Access for High-Value
Foods (February 2005) examines how existing multilateral trade rules
may favor trade in raw commodities at the expense of processed
products, identifies changes in food trade patterns and
shifts in U.S. comparative advantages, and evaluates the
impact of uniformly reducing global tariffs as a way of
improving market access.
Global Trade Patterns
in Fruits and Vegetables (June 2004) examines the domestic markets
and trade experiences of major fruit and vegetable traders
to better understand the economic and institutional factors
affecting trade. With major advances in produce handling
and transport, combined with trade agreements and changing
consumer preferences as incomes rise, a more global market
is providing consumers with greater year-round variety.
U.S. and
EU Consumption Comparisons examines EU and U.S. food
consumption patterns and finds that there are different
preferences for food characteristics and specific types
of food. In both regions, however, people work more hours,
cook less, and eat more prepared food. For the full report,
see U.S.-EU Food and
Agriculture Comparisons (February 2004).
The
U.S. Ag Trade Balance...More Than Just a Number (February 2004) explains
why the value of U.S. agricultural imports has been increasing
faster than exports, a trend closely tied to higher per
capita consumption of fruits, vegetables, and wine. The
article further discusses prospects for U.S. food imports
and the agricultural trade balance as the size, diversity,
and tastes of the U.S. population change through the decade.
International Evidence
on Food Consumption Patterns (October 2003) analyzes expenditures
across 114 countries on major consumption categories,
including food and different food subcategories. Results
indicate poorer countries are more responsive to price
and income changes and also allocate larger shares of
their total budget to necessities such as food.
Many factors determine the Structure
of the Global Markets for Meat (September 2003), including the relative
availability of resources for raising and processing animals
for meat. Preferences for various cuts of meat among countries
provide opportunities for international trade.
Changing Structure of
Global Food Consumption and Trade (June 2001) explores factors
underlying shifts in global food consumption patterns
and the composition of world agricultural trade. Higher
incomes, diet diversification, and increasing demand for
higher quality and labor-saving products are among the
factors that influence food consumption and trade.
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