A Call to Action for World Leaders: Prevent Global Food Security Crisis in COVID-19 Fight

ISAAA News - April 22, 2020

Figure: A farmer weeds a maize field in Pusa, Bihar state, India. The productivity and food security of small-scale farmers requires their presence and activity in the field and in markets, both of which could be off-limits under the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: M. DeFreese/CIMMYT).

A coalition has called on world leaders urgently to maintain open trade of their surplus food products. The Call to Action has been made as the group is alarmed by the risk of global and regional food shortages triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Published on April 9, 2020, and signed by 60 experts, the call to action urges world leaders to keep food supplies flowing, especially support vulnerable people, and finance sustainable, resilient food systems.

The signatories of the Call to Action – comprising major businesses, farmers' groups, industry, non-governmental organizations, and academia – call on world leaders to design COVID-19 response measures that minimize the risks of global and regional food security crises in coming months. The action is needed in three key areas:

Keep the supply of food flowing across the world – maintain open trade

Scale support to the most vulnerable – ensure access to nutritious, affordable food for all

Invest in sustainable, resilient food systems – sow seeds of recovery for people and planet

The declaration stated that getting the food system right is central to a resilient recovery across the world, creating the potential for millions of new jobs, less hunger, greater food security and better management of key natural resources: soil, water, forests, and the oceans.

For more details, read the news article in the CIMMYT website. The Call to Action is available at The Food and Land Use Coalition website, where all signatories are listed.