Regional developments: Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean

In addition to global developments and food policy changes, 2014 also saw important developments with potentially wide repercussions in individual countries and regions. This chapter offers perspectives on major food policy developments in various regions including Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The individual regional sections cover many critical topics: 1. Renewed focus on the role of agriculture in broad economic growth, poverty reduction, and food and nutrition security in Africa 2. Policy reforms in fuel subsidies, agriculture, and food trade in the Middle East and North Africa 3. Economic challenges and opportunities for Central Asia’s food system 4. Responses to high food inflation and climatic risk in South Asia 5. Laying of the groundwork for multilateral cooperation on food policy in East Asia 6. Progress in South-South learning initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean tempered by weather and other shocks