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Global food worries - UN's FAO economist Monika Tothova
CGTN
04:18

WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

Earlier this year, the World Food Program had warned that the combination of climate change, COVID-19 and conflicts in Ethiopia, Syria and Yemen constituted a perfect storm of food insecurity risk factors for the world's poorest countries.

And then came the conflict in Ukraine – a country that normally exports grain to 400 million people around the world, but now, with none of its major ports operative, it won't be able to do so.

So just what impact will this have on global food security? Monika Tothova, an economist at the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) joins The Agenda with Stephen Cole to explain.

MEET THE EXPERT

Monika Tothova is an economist for the UN's food and agriculture body.

Her expertise is in agricultural and food policies, rural and regional development, development economics and agricultural trade and markets.

WHAT DOES TOTHOVA SAY?

"The UN is very concerned about the situation in Ukraine," Monika Tothova says, "as we are very concerned about the situation in every country, particularly those affected by COVID-19 and other crises. But in particular in Ukraine, we have a very specific situation. Agriculture is very important for the country, for the country's economy. Ukraine is a very important food producer."

And, she adds, the longer the conflict continues the bigger the problem becomes: "We will have to see how long the conflict is going to continue and the impact on the logistical infrastructure in Ukraine, whether they'll be able to restart exporting and resume supply to the world…. The wheat currently on sale is the wheat that was harvested last year."

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:

Pekka Pesonen – Secretary-General of COPA and COGECA, which between them represent more than 70 national farming organizations across Europe, joins The Agenda with Stephen Cole to consider how fellow famers can help their Ukrainian counterparts at this time of crisis.

Professor Ruth Oniyang'o, founder and Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, talks about the knock-on effects of the Ukrainian conflict across Africa, and what more needs to be done to improve food security globally going forward.

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