About 25 years ago, Baldwyn Torto and his team taught themselves to talk to locusts. Now, Simon Allison brings you the story of the swarms eating their way across the continent

The impact of climate change on agriculture and food production is clear: the sector will suffer. Here’s what needs to be done

Ecosystem destruction by human activities has reduced plant varieties and other life — and the ability to survive

North Korea was one of 40 countries identified by the FAO as in need of external assistance for food

Poor practices in the industry lead to disease, use of antibiotics and contamination of water and soil

Although food prices have continued to rise, riots because of this fact have been almost non-existent as people have generally suffered in silence.

A UN report has found that 25% of all land is highly degraded and warns the trend must be reversed if the world’s growing population is to be fed.

World food prices hit a new record high in January after rising for a seventh consecutive month, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says.

The number of undernourished people around the world has declined by nearly 10% in the last year, the UN food agency said on Tuesday.

The global economic crisis will help push 100-million people into poverty this year through lost jobs and lower earnings, a UN agency said on Friday.

A technique pioneered by African agricultural scientists has helped boost crop yields in exhausted and ancient soils.

Global numbers afflicted by acute hunger rose from 850-million to 925-million by the start of 2008 because of rising prices, the UN’s FAO says.

Malwi’s irrigation programme, which began in January, is already showing signs of success and is encouraging crop diversification.