Addressing the global food security crisis: Strengthening research and policy responses

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further increased food and input prices at the global level, with the strongest impacts felt by the poorest in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The World Food Program projects that the conflict could put an additional 47 million people at risk of acute hunger worldwide. The impacts of this crisis are unfolding as countries cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, more frequent and damaging extreme weather events caused by climate change, and other conflicts. 

Germany can act as a leader to address these interrelated challenges and crises. Together with World Bank President David Malpass, Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), recently established the Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS) to catalyze an agile, immediate, and coordinated response to the unfolding global food security crisis.

As the world’s largest international agrifood research consortium, CGIAR plays a pivotal role in providing research to help shape context-specific policies and solutions. More than ever, close collaboration between CGIAR, national governments, and international organizations is needed to meet the strong demand for innovations and ensure their delivery, scaling, and impact.

This policy seminar will analyze the impacts of the war in Ukraine on food security in low- and-middle-income countries, highlight GAFS, and showcase how CGIAR’s immediate and longer-term responses can support policy initiatives.

Opening Remarks

• Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Project manager, Fund International Agricultural Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Setting the scene: Implications and responses to the global food security crisis

• Martin Fregene, Director, Department of Agriculture and Agro-Industry, African Development Bank 
• Sebastian Lesch, Head of Division, Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains, International Agricultural Policy, Agriculture, Innovation, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

How can international agricultural research support short-, medium- and long-term responses to the global food security crisis?

• Martin Kropff, Global Director for Resilient Agri-Food Systems, CGIAR
• Johan Swinnen, Global Director, CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group & Director General, IFPRI
• Sonja Vermeulen, Global Director for Genetic Innovations, CGIAR

Bridging back to practice – comments from key stakeholders

• Sory Ouane, Senior Adviser to the Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA)-NEPAD
• Francine Picard Mukazi, Co-founder and Director of Partnerships, Shamba Centre for Food & Climate

Q&A

Wrap up, next steps and closing

• Johan Swinnen, Global Director, CGIAR Systems Transformation Science Group & Director General, IFPRI 
• Sebastian Lesch, Head of Division, Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains, International Agricultural Policy, Agriculture, Innovation, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Project manager of Fund International Agricultural Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Moderator

• Stefan Kachelriess-Matthess, Project manager of Fund International Agricultural Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)