World food prices down by a fifth on 2022 — UN

World food prices are still high but have fallen by a fifth compared to a year ago when prices soared to a monthly record high after Russia invaded agricultural powerhouse Ukraine, UN data showed on Friday.

Prices have fallen 20.5 percent since March last year after a 12th straight monthly drop, the

Food and Agriculture Organization said.

But in releasing its latest data tracking monthly changes in international prices of a basket of food commodities, the FAO said food remained expensive notably for developing countries highly dependent on imports.

The FAO said the fall in benchmark prices was “driven by declines in world quotations for cereals and vegetable oils.”

The UN agency added: “A mix of ample supplies, subdued import demand and the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative contributed to the drop.”

A deal negotiated by Turkey and the United Nations allows Ukraine -- one of the world’s top

On March 30-31, 2023, an event hardly covered by the press, the Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers (MAEM), a proponent of best mining practices, held its 29th Annual Min-ing Symposium and International Trade Expo in Davao City. The theme: “Forging New Heights in Integral Mining Industry.”

Engr. Constancio A. Paje, Sr., the association’s president, opened the conference by saying the organization is “refocusing (the mining engineers’) mandate (beyond) the usual purpose of providing the avenue of development of our profession.” Parallel to this is the 2016 papal bull’s statement that the environment is “a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.”

Historically, mining in the country traces its provenance