ABSTRACT
The aim of the article is to show the development of the volume and value of natural honey production, its import and export, and prices in Poland against the background of the situation in other countries in the European Union in the years 2000-2020 and as part of market changes globally. The study used the source of information from the FAOSTAT 2022 database. The production of honey in Poland, in other EU countries and around the world was characterized by an upward trend in the analyzed period. The biggest problem is China, which supplies the market with every fourth kilogram of honey product, while the EU accounts for about 13%. In the top thirty producers of natural honey, there are 11 European countries, including 9 from the EU - Poland is in fourth position. Self sufficiency in terms of honey is 60%, which is why the turnover in foreign trade of honey is dynamically increasing in terms of quantity and value. Overall, the honey trade balance in the EU was negative. The structure of honey exports and imports from and to the EU has changed, which is the result of random factors, i.e. the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and various economic, demographic, social and environmental factors.
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The Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) has provided the South and southern African sugar industry with analytical services for more than 50 years. The need for an internationally-recognised quality assurance system to provide SMRI members and their customers with the necessary confidence in the results that they were receiving was recognised more than 25 years ago, and it culminated in the SMRI Analytical Services Division achieving ISO/IEC Guide 25:1990 accreditation in 1998. The SMRI analytical laboratory has since successfully progressed through the ISO/IEC 17025:1999 and ISO/IEC 17025:2005 iterations to the current ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard. The SMRI has therefore had to continually expand the scope of its systems over the past 25 years, in order to match the updated requirements. The system is used for the analysis of weekly composite mixed juice and final molasses samples from all the SMRI South African member mills and some southern African member mills. Similarly, raw and white sugar analyses are conducted, with the reporting of results to the members' specifications. Critical to the accuracy of these results is the continual auditing and monitoring of the methods, equipment and chemical solutions that are used in the analysis methods. This is achieved by using Certified Reference Materials and control samples, as well as participating in internationally-recognised analytical proficiency schemes. Critical to the success of the laboratory in maintaining its accreditation is the competence of the laboratory staff who undergo continual training and assessments. This was demonstrated in 2020 and 2021, when they were able to continue providing the necessary services, despite the challenges faced during the Covid pandemic.
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As the world was emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic earlier this year, it was thrown off course by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Geopolitical instability and conflicts now remain a top concern as the greatest risk to global growth over the next 12 months. Production costs are rising. We are in a totally new world, and companies are going to have to reconfigure how they think about their operations. Against this backdrop, the global sugar industry, invariably sucked in the vortex of the storm will have to manage. Sugar prices are holding up, moderated as much by climate volatility dictating uncertainty and macroeconomic indicators, in particular the value of US$. Global sugar production in 2022/23 (Oct/Sep) is forecast at 191.1 million tonnes raw value (mtrv) while the consumption is expected to rise by 0.9% to 186.8 million tonnes suggesting a global surplus following the deficit of 2.2 mtrv in the previous year. Sugar production in the top-producing countries Brazil, India and Thailand will sway the market as will the top consumers Indonesia and China.
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Purpose: Childhood obesity has become a social problem due to the social distancing necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study aimed to identify the dietary problems of obese children through various dietary assessment methods and to confirm the usefulness of each method. Methods: The subjects were 88 students in the 4th to 6th grade of elementary school who participated in the nutrition camp organised by the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, 2020. To evaluate dietary problems and assess diet quality, 24-hour meal records, monthly food intake frequency, and Dietary Screening Test (DST) data were analyzed. Results: Of the subjects, 15.7%, 30.3%, and 53.9% were normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. The average age was 11.77 +or- 0.77 years and the average body mass index was 23.96 +or- 3.01 kg/m2. It was observed from the 24-hour meal record method that the overweight and obese subject groups consumed fewer green vegetables (p < 0.001) and white vegetables (p < 0.01) than the normal weight group. In the monthly food intake frequency method, the consumption of ramen (p < 0.01), snacks (p < 0.05), and sausages (p < 0.05) were high in the obese group, and that of anchovies, broccoli, and sweet pumpkin was high in the normal group (p < 0.05). The comparative data from the DST revealed that the overweight and obese groups had less vegetable intake than the normal weight group (p < 0.01) and had higher intakes of dairy products, fast food, and sweet snacks (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The usefulness of each method in the dietary evaluation of obese children was confirmed. To address the problem of obesity, it is necessary to evaluate the dietary problem and approach it with a customized solution tailor-made for the individual subject.
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An efficient commodity market creates a price relationship between two or more markets. This study provides an overview of the behavior of premium granulated sugar prices and the price relationship between market levels. Time series data for the period January 2018-March 2022, are used in this study. Graphical trend analysis;and cointegration analysis with Vector Autoregression (VAR) approach to find research objectives. The research found that the price behavior of premium quality granulated sugar in the traditional market and the modern market is more dynamic than the price at the wholesaler level. The highest price spike occurred in the early period of covid-19, and several months later it returned to stability. Price behavior in traditional markets does not follow movements at other market levels simultaneously but takes some time to reach equilibrium. There is a long-term rionship (cointegration) between prices at the level of traditional markets, modern markets, and wholesalers, which contribute to the balance in the market. Market players need to take a strategic role in maintaining price balance at every level of the market in order to create an efficient and fair market.
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This study presents a designed ICT based extension service delivery system for the sugar industry of Eswatini. The model is an improvement of the current system and it presents a delivery system that is void of many limitations. This model emanates from findings of a survey which involved all smallholder sugarcane farmers (N=172) and their extension officers (N=17). The survey investigated how information and knowledge are currently managed within the sugar industry. Basically, the model revolves around the use of mobile phones to relay information among the sugar industry stakeholders in a timely, more organised, productive and cost-effective ways, without contravention of the COVID-19 pandemic protocols. Sugarcane stakeholders can now be able to exchange information using the model without having to meet physically, which is what most of the traditional approaches required. The exchange of information can be in a form of voiced, pre-recorded information in the form of texts, audio, or audio visuals. This would go a long way in enhancing smallholder farmer's productivity as it has the potential of empowering more rural sugarcane farmers with crucial information for improved productivity. The model has the potential to sustain itself as the participation of the stakeholders is promoted.
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The aim of this paper is to contribute knowledge about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on behavior and changes in the food market and to assess the level of resilience of the agri-food sector to the coronavirus pandemic, analyzing its impact on commodity prices and focusing on supply chain and values. The paper presents an overview of literature data related to the topic of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the food market, ie the food chain. Analyzing FAO Food Price Index (ICH) from 2015 to 2020, the average ICH is growing slightly on average in 2020 (5.3%) compared to 2015. Looking at individual commodity groups, more or less oscillations were observed in all of them, and the increase in the price index refers to dairy products, vegetable oils and cereals, while a decrease was observed in meat and sugar. If we analyze more closely the movement of ICH and commodity groups in the period from March 2020 to March 2021, we can see an increase in the ICH average and all individual commodity groups. The increase is most significant in vegetable oils and sugars. The trade of purchased and sold agricultural products in Croatia from 2018 to 2020 slightly increased in 2020 compared to the previous (non-pandemic) year. Unlike other sectors, the food sector, as part of the national critical infrastructure, remained operational throughout the supply chain during the pandemic. As this crisis is unlikely to remain a one-off, further research efforts should focus on considering its long-term impacts, such as negative impacts on job security, supply chains and globalization.
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This paper characterises South African sugarcane production for the 2020/21 milling season from an agricultural perspective, in order to evaluate recent production strategies, and to identify priorities for improved efficiencies. The industry produced 18.22 million tons of cane, harvested from an estimated 254 028 ha (71.73 t/ha). The cane to sugar ratio was 8.89, and sugar production decreased from the 2019/20 season by 7%, to 2.28 million tons. After closing early in 2019/20, the Darnall Mill (along with Umzimkulu) remained closed in 2020/21, resulting in cane oversupply at some mills and considerable carryover tonnages. Cane quality improved in northern irrigated areas. Decreasing cane quality in the Noodsberg and UCL mill supply areas warrants investigation. Rainfall was generally below-average, with dry 2019 and 2020 winters;however, relief was offered by good spring/summer rains. Irrigation water supplies from the Bivane Dam and the Umhlatuze Catchment were significantly improved. The 2020 winter was particularly cold, and the Midlands cane was affected by frost. Eldana incidence decreased overall from the previous season, but flourished in carryover cane in the South Coast and Amatikulu regions. Smut prevalence was slightly higher than in 2019, and efforts to reduce these levels remain a priority in the northern parts of the industry, particularly in Pongola. A 19% increase in the Recoverable Value (RV) price saw a return to profitability for large- and small-scale growers alike. The negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on local sugarcane producers were minimal, and the increase in the RV price is partly attributed to COVID. The Sugar Industry Value Chain Master Plan also contributed to the increase in the RV price, by securing local sales and more effectively discouraging imports.
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This paper is aimed to share the community service experiences held at Boro Sumbersari hamlet which is located at 98A UB forest plot. Boro Sumbersari hamlet is inhabited by Magersaren community. The Magersaren community are farmers and forest workers who depend on forest for their livelihoods. Magersaren has been practicing agroforestry for a long time. They grow Robusta and Arabica coffee among other forest plants. Currently coffee is a favorite beverage, the number of its consumers continues to increase. Many people are interested in the ground coffee beans made by Magersaren traditionally, but it has not been widely marketed. The purpose of this community service program is to generate an alternative source of Magersaren household income, through the added value improvement of local flavored ground coffee beans they have. The added value of magersaren's ground coffee beans can be increased through product development technologies such as attractive packaging techniques and the creation of new variants ground coffe beans by adding brown sugar and powdered ginger. The execution of community service activities that have been carried out consists of: (1) program socialization;(2) focus group discussion;(3) production, packaging and management training;(4) small-business starting up;(5) program evaluation. These community service activities are held during the social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This condition becomes an obstacle to the effectiveness of program implementation. The start-up small business needs to be continuously supported in order to survive through a critical period of business development, especially under economic pressure during the pandemic.
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The global obesity issue is often linked to the use of added sugars, but this relationship is unproven and there is no internationally recognised evidence that points to a direct link between the consumption of sugar and excess weight. However, in the sphere of public opinion, it is perceived as being beyond question. Furthermore, the objective of reducing added/free sugar from our basic diet has taken on a pathway of its own. This view is not supported by scientific research or published guidelines and should be challenged. Governments have largely chosen to target a reduction in the sugar content of soft drinks as a public health objective. This has been done through taxing sales or sugar content. Our analysis finds that there is a statistically significant impact on sugar consumption in some countries, mainly through the voluntary reformulations undertaken by beverage companies. But that this impact is small in terms of the volume of sugar eliminated. The study sees the application of similar taxes on food manufacturing as challenging, as sugar is used as a functional ingredient and food formulations are inherently more complex. From a public heath perspective, the study notes both a lack of historic evidence for a correlation between sugar consumption growth and obesity as well as a divergence between public health objectives and the current use of sugar. The study also considers behavioural aspects for consumers and food and beverage producers, surmising that the tax effect on consumers is partly short term while producers remain broadly focused on sales and marketing objectives, with public health changes seen as an industry-wide issue. More broadly, the study also notes that COVID-19 will skew results for many years to come. The report also considers the supply and demand dynamics of the sugar market in view of slowing demand, partly contributed to by sugar taxes. With low elasticity for both consumption and production, and with limited growth in the former, the implication is volatile world market prices. Sugar industries more than ever before will need to embrace diversification options such as bio energy and other bio products to ensure a sustainable future in a slowing sugar demand growth environment.
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China is one of the largest economies in the world, second only to the US, with exponential growth over the past few decades, its annual GDP growth rate between 2008 and 2018 averaged 8.1%. Although, the pace of growth has slowed in recent years, it remains on a high level compared to many other developing countries in the world. China's economy has experienced a number of structural changes during recent years which have also had an impact on the food and agricultural sector. The decline of the working age population in rural areas, which started in 2015, together with increasing real wages requires a different approach when it comes to rural labour. China, in its drive towards self-sufficiency has achieved remarkable results in the expansion of agricultural production. But some of this increase has been at the expense of the sustainable use of the country's natural resources. Agriculture is the biggest user of natural resources such as land and water. These factors could affect the further growth and development of the agricultural sector. New policies, including new qualitative approaches, such as mechanisation, fertilisation of exhausted arable lands and innovations in agriculture could be a positive driver for future development. Globally, China is a substantial growth market, including its domestic sugar market. Domestic production, consumption, imports and policy dynamics are all key to the outlook for the Chinese sugar balance. This study aims to uncover China's importance in the world sugar economy and explore the latest developments in the industry in order to make forward projections of the country's sugar balance. In 2018, China cemented its position as the world's largest sugar net-importer, being the largest importer with total purchases of 5.2 mln tonnes of sugar from the world market. Although per capita consumption remains low, at 11.3 kg in 2018, as against a world average of 22.6 kg, China's sugar consumption demonstrated sustainable growth during ten consecutive years, from 2008 to 2018, averaging 2% annually. Declining production during the same ten years period by 2% annually was offset by higher imports with a growth rate (2008-2018) averaging 26% annually. In 2020, the new uncertainty owing to the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted global market developments in different areas, as separate reports have shown. This study will present a general overview of China's sugar market, with an update on the recent market situation, the country's policy on sugar production and governmental support of the sugar industry, to demonstrate its importance in the world sugar economy, and show principal changes of its position on the world sugar map. A major aspect of the study will consist of the latest update on China's position in the global sugar market, an assessment of the recent policy trends with regards to domestic sugar production, the dynamics of sugar consumption, including recent trends and prospects in the use of caloric and non-caloric sweeteners, development in sugar trade, and finally, discover the main country's policy changes in terms of sugar market support.
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These proceedings contain a number of papers discussing current topics, from hives and beekeeping conditions, through the latest knowledge on good practice in pest control in agriculture through the quality of honey, its presence on the world market and control of counterfeiting to the health effects of honey and other bee products. Topics on COVID-19 are included from the aspect of the impact on beekeeping and the potential application of bee products in relieving the symptoms of the disease.
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Agricultural commodities strengthened their position on the financial and commodity market during the 21st century. At the same time, however, the agricultural-oriented commodity market has been suffering due to a high degree of price fluctuation. Significant price fluctuations are typical in this respect, especially in times of uncertainty and periods of financial market crises. In this sector, sugar belongs among key commodities. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant increase in financial market uncertainty, including commodity markets. The new coronavirus affected both supply and demand on the sugar market. Such a situation resulted in significant changes in the area of production offered and especially in relation to the development of available sugar stocks. The aim of the paper is to define the impact of uncertainty on the stock market in relation to sugar price development in the period of COVID-19 crisis. The subject of the analysis is thus the development of sugar price on the one hand in the context of the financial market uncertainty and the development of the COVID-19 pandemic on the other hand. Sugar prices are represented by the S&P GSCI Sugar index, while the VIX index is used to indicate uncertainty in stock markets. To examine the changes in the relationship between sugar prices and stock market uncertainty, a regression model with a sequential Bai-Perron test of structural breaks in a thirty-year perspective is used. The results of the analysis proved the existence of a significant and negative relationship between sugar prices and the expected volatility of stock markets since the global financial crisis. Furthermore, the Granger causality test evaluates the causal relationships between sugar prices and the VIX index during the new coronavirus pandemic. The results of the analysis proved that the uncertainty in the stock market has been negatively affecting sugar prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.