FAO urges G20 to ensure non-disruption of food value chain

To take measures for global food systems to continue to work well

The Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, has urged leaders from the G20 countries to take measures for global food systems to continue to work well, particularly in relation to access to food for the world’s poor and most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Director-General said lockdowns and restrictions on movement could disrupt food production, processing, distribution and sales, both nationally and globally, with the potential to have an “immediate and severe” impact on those restricted by mobility.

Qu said global food markets are well supplied but there is growing concern and that measures should be taken to ensure that both national food markets and the world market continue to be a transparent, stable and reliable source of food supply.

As economic activities slow down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to food will be negatively affected by income reductions and loss of employment.  

“We need to make sure that agricultural trade continues to play its important role in contributing to global food security and better nutrition,” Qu said.