Food security – a hot international story last week

David Beasley, Director of the World Food Program, said: “Even before the conflict in Ukraine, I warned of a potential conflict. food crisis world and we are facing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.”

Conflict, climate change and pandemics, broken global supply chains, unprecedentedly high food prices, etc., are the factors that lead to the risk of a global food crisis.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: “The global food crisis will not be resolved overnight, which is why we must focus on all the contributing factors. causing famine”.

As a country food export As one of the leading countries in the world, Vietnam is actively contributing to the joint effort to find a solution to “Differentiate a global food crisis”.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai: “In the short term, we must also provide urgent humanitarian aid to some countries that are currently facing food shortages. And also have to restore the food supply system. Global”.

Vietnam is actively contributing to the joint effort to find a solution to “Differentiate a global food crisis”.

Navigating the global food crisis

Food security became a hot international story again last week, when it was discussed in a series of global forums: at the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council and the World Economic Forum. Davos. The common message of the world’s leaders and leading international organizations is that global action is needed to mitigate the impact of a food security crisis.

The panel session highlighted challenges from the dual crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, which have resulted in unprecedented synergistic effects on food supplies, prices and supply chains. Global.

The discussion session “Diversion of a global food crisis” was scheduled on the first day of the World Economic Forum. The world is facing the risk of the worst food crisis in decades due to the impact of climate change, the pandemic and most recently the impact of the conflict in Ukraine.

Mr. David Beasley – Director of the World Food Program emphasized: “The crisis is forcing us to take food from the hungry to provide relief to the starving. What happens when a country still provides food? enough food to feed 400 million people, and now that country is on lockdown. Add in fuel prices, food prices, shipping costs, all of which have skyrocketed, damaging not only our operations, but our operations as well. for global food security”.

Not only did the World Economic Forum stir up pressing issues, what are the global priorities and how to act to prevent a return of hunger, but in another session with President Donald Trump. Poland participated, also raised the challenges that can arise from the risk of hunger. “Spain and all of Southern Europe will have to deal with a wave of migration if famine breaks out in Africa. Hunger leads to migration, even creating serious instability in North Africa and around the world. gender”.

Vietnam is one of the world’s top grain exporters, and can participate in a joint effort to reverse the risk of hunger and its consequences.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai suggested: “In the short term, we must also provide urgent humanitarian aid to a number of countries currently facing food shortages and also have to restore the global food supply system. demand, remove barriers to trade in food supply We ask that countries as well as international organizations and businesses of WEF support and support the establishment of an innovation hub on food and food supply systems in Southeast Asia and located in Vietnam”.

Another direction is to support local agricultural development for countries still dependent on imported food sources. In this direction, Vietnam has a lot of experience. For decades, Vietnam has been sending experts to a number of African and Latin American countries to guide local farmers to be self-sufficient in food. In the context of polarizing globalization, self-reliance in food, energy and raw materials has become the main topic of discussions taking place here.

Vietnam’s rice exports maintain the world’s No. 2 position

Risk of global food insecurity

It can be said that Vietnam continues to demonstrate its role and responsibility in the common goal of ensuring food security in the world. This is also the message shared at UN forums in recent days, in the context that global food security is facing great risk and is at the center of the UN’s agenda.

In less than a week from May 18 to 23, the UN held three meetings on global food security, two-thirds of which were discussed in the most powerful bodies, the Security Council. and the United Nations General Assembly. Many senior leaders of the United Nations and countries participated in the speech. The risk of food insecurity is warned with numbers that speak.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “Global hunger is at its worst. In just two years, the number of people who are food insecure has doubled from 135 million before the pandemic to 276 million. More than half a million people are living in conditions of hunger, an increase of more than 500% since 2016.”

On May 23, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on “Global Food Insecurity” without a vote. In addition to the establishment of the Global Crisis Response Team for food, energy and finance. The resolution calls on UN member states and stakeholders to maintain supply chains for agricultural products and food; emphasized the need to keep trade activities smooth and limit hoarding of food and goods.

World conference of researchers and entrepreneurs to untie the knots for the difficulties of world agriculture in the US

For Vietnam, is one of the leading food exporting countries in the world. In all UN fora, we affirm to participate actively in global efforts on food security.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang – Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations: “Through innovative and sustainable agricultural models, we aspire to become an “innovative center of food” in the region. With that in mind, we will continue to make meaningful contributions to joint efforts to address global food security challenges.”

According to the UN assessment, climate change, COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict are the main causes of food insecurity today. It is forecasted that by the end of the year, the world will have 40 million more people falling into poverty. And it is at this time that a global approach is needed to address the issue of food security.

Investing in sustainable agriculture

In food products, in addition to the main product of rice, which maintains the world’s No. 2 position, Vietnam is also ranked No. 1 in the world in terms of cashew nut exports, accounting for 18% of the global value chain, and ranked second. cassava exports – also a billion dollar export item of Vietnam. Vietnam’s participation in the global food supply chain is even more meaningful at this time, when up to 23 countries around the world have introduced strict restrictions on exports. food since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Developing hi-tech agriculture in Ninh Thuan – Vietnam

In light of the common global challenge facing the agricultural sector due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, the shift from a local to a global mindset is an important shift for with Vietnam’s agricultural industry, with a vision of sustainable agricultural development. This is also the general trend of the world to avoid repeating food crises in the future.

Participating in supplying beef to the whole region, Mr. Tim’s farm was recently affected by a broken supply chain. Agricultural equipment, animal feed often arrive late… In the opposite direction, food sources from the farm are also more difficult to access the market.

Mr. Tim White – Owner of White Farm, Kentucky shared: “There is a shortage of beef in the market, but the product is not lacking, it is due to a supply chain breakdown. We have never encountered such a situation before, from congested transportation to expensive labor, and then contracted COVID, so few workers went back to work.”

A 20-minute drive from Mr. Tim’s house, world researchers and businessmen are gathering and trying to untie the knots of the world’s agricultural difficulties over the past two years. Supply chain disruption and food scarcity are thought to be only two temporary problems, but to solve them, there needs to be investment and proper attention to agriculture.

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