India, the United States, and the European Union, also major agricultural producers, account for 15 percent, 14 percent, and 13 percent respectively.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates agricultural aid for a total of 54 countries over the past two years at around 808 billion euros per year. The support includes both subsidies to farmers and price discounts for consumers.
In terms of agricultural financing, there has been structurally little change since early 2010, and efforts to reduce agricultural subsidies have largely stalled.
The OECD has been critical of agricultural support for years because it distorts market mechanisms and maintains environmentally harmful production methods. According to the new report, agricultural support also hinders economic growth and adaptations to the changing climate. The OECD therefore calls for reforms.
Climate change is increasingly affecting agricultural production, the OECD also notes. Some regions may see their production increase, but others suffer major disadvantages due to increasing weather extremes. In most parts of the world, agriculture must adapt to deteriorating production conditions.