Global food crisis tightens grip on 19 hunger hotspots
21/9/2022: The number of people facing acute food insecurity worldwide is expected to continue to rise precipitously, driven by rising conflict, weather extremes, and economic instability. Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen alone account for almost a million people facing catastrophic levels of hunger.
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Catastrophic hunger warnings in Somalia
13/9/2022: UN food agencies continue to warn that famine will occur in Somalia within the next few weeks, without immediate funding to help vulnerable communities. More than 513,000 children are at risk of dying.
Source: UN News
Six megatrends shaping African food systems
9/9/2022: The 2022 Africa Agriculture Status Report, published by AGRA, urges African governments to proactively respond to six major demographic, economic, environmental, and social megatrends. The report estimates that governments need to invest between $40 billion and $77 billion a year to sustain agrifood transformation on the continent.
Source: Devex
Africa food crisis deepens with spike in fertiliser costs
8/9/2022: Multinationals and philanthropists see widespread use of fertilisers as key to increasing yields in Africa, despite the 300% rise in prices since Russia invaded Ukraine. Smallholder advocacy networks say this model has put farmers at the mercy of volatile global markets and worsened food security.
Source: Climate Home News
Record profits for grain firms amid food crisis
23/8/2022: The world’s top four grain traders, controlling an estimated 70-90% of global trade, have enjoyed a bonanza as soaring food prices plunge 345 million people into acute food insecurity.
Source: The Guardian
Ukraine: Obstacles to global grain shipments remain
22/8/2022: A month after Russia and Ukraine agreed on a sea corridor to resume global exports of grain, only four vessels have entered the ports of the Odesa region. High insurance premiums threaten the release of Ukrainian grain into world markets.
Source: DW
Water scarcity is biggest threat to food security
26/7/2022: Increased demand for water will be the biggest threat to food security in the next two decades, says a new report that identifies and ranks the top ten risks. It calls for collaboration between scientists and policymakers to boost resilience in global food systems.
Source: SciDev.Net
Black Sea grain deal releases food and fertilizer exports
22/7/2022: Russian and Ukrainian ministers have signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative which should stabilize global food prices and bring relief for developing countries on the edge of bankruptcy.
Source: UN News
Joint Statement by UN leaders on the global food crisis
15/7/2022: Leaders of UN food and finance agencies have again voiced their concern for global food security. They urge actions in four key areas: providing support to the vulnerable, facilitating trade and international supply of food, boosting production and investing in climate-resilient agriculture.
Source: World Food Programme
Securing food supply with wheat alternatives
12/7/2022: As war in Ukraine strangles global wheat supplies, hardy and climate-resilient wild grains could bring greater food security. For example, millet requires far less water than wheat, rice or corn, and can be grown on relatively poor soils.
Source: DW