The Food and Agricultural Organization said Thursday that food prices reached a 10-year high in 2021, rising by an average of 28 per cent compared to the previous year.

FAO's Food Price Index, which measures monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities, was slightly lower last month (December).

While it fell short of the February 2011 record of 137.6 points in February, at 133.7, it was still close to the previous record. The index stood at 125.7 points for the year as a whole, also the highest in a decade.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-concerns-of-food-security-grain-prices-rise-in-china-432316">Amid concerns of food security, grain prices rise in China</a>

Despite a decline of 0.9 per cent from November, this was still a 23.1 per cent increase over the same month the previous year.

"While normally high prices are expected to give way to increased production, the high cost of inputs, ongoing global pandemic and ever more uncertain climatic conditions leave little room for optimism about a return to more stable market conditions even in 2022," FAO Senior Economist Abdolreza Abbassian said in a statement.

Strong demand led to price increases in all food categories last year, he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-food-prices-record-10-year-high-as-wheat-prices-soar-by-40-426984">Global food prices record 10-year high as wheat prices soar by 40%</a>

For the year as a whole, the Oil Index reached a record high, rising 65.8 per cent over 2020.&nbsp;

The price of another staple, sugar, fell by 3.1 per cent last month from November, reaching a five-month low. Overall, the Sugar Price Index rose 29.8 per cent, reaching its highest level since 2016.&nbsp;

In December, the Meat Price Index was "broadly stable," but it increased 12.7 per cent throughout the year. The Dairy Price Index increased 16.9 per cent compared with 2020.

Watch |&nbsp;Report: 2021 ranks as fifth hottest year

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-2021-ranks-as-fifth-hottest-year-442723/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Additionally, the Cereal Price Index decreased 0.6 per cent; however, it rose 27.2 per cent for the full year, marking its highest level since 2012. Among the biggest gainers were maize, up 44.1 per cent, and wheat, gaining 31.3 per cent.&nbsp;

Rice, another key staple food, decreased by 4 per cent.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Food and Agricultural Organization said Thursday that food prices reached a 10-year high in 2021, rising by an average of 28 per cent compared to the previous year.

The Food and Agricultural Organization said Thursday that food prices reached a 10-year high in 2021, rising by an average of 28 per cent compared to the previous year. FAO's Food Price Index, which measures monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities, was slightly lower last month (December). While it fell short of the February 2011 record of 137.6 points in February, at 133.7, it was still close to the previous record. The index stood at 125.7 points for the year as a whole, also the highest in a decade. Also read | Amid concerns of food security, grain prices rise in China Despite a decline of 0.9 per cent from November, this was still a 23.1 per cent increase over the same month the previous year. "While normally high prices are expected to give way to increased production, the high cost of inputs, ongoing global pandemic and ever more uncertain climatic conditions leave little room for optimism about a return to more stable market conditions even in 2022," FAO Senior Economist Abdolreza Abbassian said in a statement. Strong demand led to price increases in all food categories last year, he said. Also read | Global food prices record 10-year high as wheat prices soar by 40% For the year as a whole, the Oil Index reached a record high, rising 65.8 per cent over 2020. The price of another staple, sugar, fell by 3.1 per cent last month from November, reaching a five-month low. Overall, the Sugar Price Index rose 29.8 per cent, reaching its highest level since 2016. In December, the Meat Price Index was "broadly stable," but it increased 12.7 per cent throughout the year. The Dairy Price Index increased 16.9 per cent compared with 2020. Watch | Report: 2021 ranks as fifth hottest year Additionally, the Cereal Price Index decreased 0.6 per cent; however, it rose 27.2 per cent for the full year, marking its highest level since 2012. Among the biggest gainers were maize, up 44.1 per cent, and wheat, gaining 31.3 per cent. Rice, another key staple food, decreased by 4 per cent. (With inputs from agencies)

Global food prices rose ‘sharply’ during 2021, hitting a 10-year high: UN

October 16 in history: From Bengal's partition to Walt Disney's foundation and more

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food is rife in Southeast Asia, a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official said on Wednesday, warning of serious risks for people and animals as bacterial infections become more resistant to treatment.

The official from the United Nations&#39; food agency issued the warning on the sidelines of an international meeting in Bangkok focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

FAO&#39;s Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth told Reuters in Bangkok that threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was magnified in places, like Asia&#39;s megacities, where there was high population growth and intense food and agriculture production.

&quot;Here in Southeast Asia &hellip; we would consider it a hotpot because of the population growth, urbanization dynamics, the production of food,&quot; Lubroth told Reuters.

A report published on Monday by the World Health Organization said that a new global surveillance system had found widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500,000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries.

&quot;Some of the world&#39;s most common &ndash; and potentially most dangerous &ndash; infections are proving drug-resistant,&quot; Marc Sprenger, director of WHO&#39;s Antimicrobial Resistance Secretariat, said in a statement.

A 2016 report by economist Jim O&#39;Neill, commissioned by the British government, projects $100 trillion in losses by 2050 if nothing is done to reverse the trend, and estimated that the annual toll resulting from AMR will climb to 10 million deaths in the next 35 years.

&quot;Ninety percent of those deaths would be in the developing world, and that is scary,&quot; Lubroth said.

He said the FAO advocates educating farmers about the dangers of using antibiotics to promote growth in animals, and stronger enforcement of rules governing food production.

&quot;It&#39;s not only about having the rules in black and white, they need to be applied.&quot;

A 2016 report by economist Jim O'Neill, commissioned by the British government, projects $100 trillion in losses by 2050 if nothing is done to reverse the trend

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in food is rife in Southeast Asia, a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official said on Wednesday, warning of serious risks for people and animals as bacterial infections become more resistant to treatment. The official from the United Nations' food agency issued the warning on the sidelines of an international meeting in Bangkok focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth told Reuters in Bangkok that threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was magnified in places, like Asia's megacities, where there was high population growth and intense food and agriculture production. "Here in Southeast Asia … we would consider it a hotpot because of the population growth, urbanization dynamics, the production of food," Lubroth told Reuters. A report published on Monday by the World Health Organization said that a new global surveillance system had found widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among 500,000 people with suspected bacterial infections across 22 countries. "Some of the world's most common – and potentially most dangerous – infections are proving drug-resistant," Marc Sprenger, director of WHO's Antimicrobial Resistance Secretariat, said in a statement. A 2016 report by economist Jim O'Neill, commissioned by the British government, projects $100 trillion in losses by 2050 if nothing is done to reverse the trend, and estimated that the annual toll resulting from AMR will climb to 10 million deaths in the next 35 years. "Ninety percent of those deaths would be in the developing world, and that is scary," Lubroth said. He said the FAO advocates educating farmers about the dangers of using antibiotics to promote growth in animals, and stronger enforcement of rules governing food production. "It's not only about having the rules in black and white, they need to be applied."

Southeast Asia a 'hotspot' for antibiotic abuse, says Food and Agriculture Organization official