This is the sixteenth edition of the Agricultural Outlook and the sixth co-edition prepared by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This edition covers the outlook for commodity markets during the 2010 to 2019 period, and brings together the commodity, policy and country expertise of both organisations. The report analyses world market trends for the main agricultural products, as well as for biofuels. It provides an assessment of agricultural market prospects for production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices of the commodities analysed.

The macroeconomic assumptions that condition the commodity projections examined are more positive in this year’s edition as compared to last year. The anticipated return to global economic growth, a rising population, emerging biofuel markets, and a higher cost structure are expected to underpin international commodity markets and prices over the outlook period under study. Developing countries are expected to be the driving force behind the expected growth in agricultural production, consumption and trade. The projections and past trends are presented in the statistical annex and can be viewed in more detail at www.agri-outlook.org.

This year’s report also includes a special section on price volatility and price transmission from world to domestic markets. Governments are concerned about price volatility because it affects farm viability, food security and needed investment. The report analyses the evidence of and changes in price volatility over the longer term and summarises policy advice from both FAO and OECD on this issue. 

-Foreword and Acknowledgements
Outlook in Brief
Chapter 1. Overview
-Introduction
-The setting
-World markets at a glance
-Main trends in individual commodity markets
-Main developments in food prices
-Issues and uncertainties
Chapter 2. Price Volatility and Price Transmission
-The global price spike of 2007/08
-Volatility and uncertainty i agricultural markets
-The transmission of international prices to domestic markets
-Price volatility: What are the policy options?
Chapter 3. Macroeconomic and Policy Assumptions
-Current situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects
-Key issues and uncertainties
Chapter 4. Biofuels
-Market situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects
-Key issues and uncertainties
Chapter 5. Cereals
-Market situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects: Wheat and coarse grains
-Market trends and prospects: Rice
-Key issues and uncertainties
Chapter 6. Oilseeds and Oilseed Products
-Market situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects
-Key issues and uncertainties
Chapter 7. Sugar
-Market situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects
-Key issues and uncertainties
Chapter 8. Meat
-Market situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects
-Key issues and uncertainties
Chapter 9. Dairy
-Market situation
-Projection highlights
-Market trends and prospects
-Key issues and uncertainties
Methodology
-The generation of the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook
-Sources and assumptions for the macroeconomic projections
-The representation of production costs in Aglink-Cosmos
Annex A. Statistical Tables
Annex B. Information on Food Price Changes
Glossary of Terms