Weekly Chart: Agricultural Production Across the Americas

With the world’s population estimated to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, food security is an important challenge governments are working to address. According to the World Bank, agricultural production needs to increase about 50 to 70 percent as a result, and though Latin America’s agricultural population is decreasing while urbanization is increasing, the region has the potential to help feed the world. 

A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) shows Latin America and Africa will lead agricultural production growth in the next decade. With few limitations in terms of land and natural resources, Latin America could have an annual agricultural production growth rate of 1.8 percent. The region represents 24 percent of the world’s arable land and has about 28 percent of the world’s potential new arable land, coming in second after sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, with more people migrating to cities, the percentage of the population involved in agriculture in each country across the Western Hemisphere is shrinking.

In light of World Food Day on October 16, AS/COA Online takes a look at the Americas’ agricultural production.