G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders’ Summit on COVID-19

G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders’ Summit on COVID-19

26 March 2020

Your Majesty, Excellencies,

It is a great duty for me to join you today in this very critical meeting, and I very much appreciate your kind invitation. The G20 members are important players in the global food system.

As a group, you have a valuable policy coordination role, particularly during crises that affect countries within and beyond the G20 membership.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting food systems and all dimensions of food security across the world. No country is immune. Lockdowns and restrictions on movement within and across countries can disrupt food production, processing, distribution and sales both nationally and globally.

We have to ensure that food value chains are not disrupted and continue to function well, and promote the production and availability of diversified, safe and nutritious food for all. 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.

 

Such impacts can be immediate and severe for those who are affected by current restrictions on mobility. The poor and the vulnerable will be the hardest hit, and governments should strengthen social safety mechanisms to maintain their access to food. Poor children can also be affected by school closure.

Currently, and according to our data, global food markets are well supplied, but there are more and more concerns. Our measures should also minimize uncertainty and ensure that, together with our national food markets, the world market continues to be a transparent, stable and reliable source of food supply. Commercial growers and production should be cared for, along with local supplies from local communities.

During the 2007-08 global food price crisis, uncertainty triggered a wave of export restrictions by countries, while other nations started importing food aggressively. This exacerbated the situation and contributed to excessive price volatility, which was damaging for low-income food-deficit countries.

We need to make sure that agricultural trade continues to play its important role in contributing to global food security and better nutrition. Now, more than ever before, we need to reduce uncertainty and strengthen market transparency through timely and reliable information. We must build confidence in global markets.

 

FAO and the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), which was launched by the G20 in 2011, will continue to monitor food markets and provide timely information, so that everyone can make informed decisions.

We should all ensure that this pandemic does not threaten food security and nutrition. On the contrary, it should promote solidarity and collective action.

Thank you for your kind attention.

 

 

QU Dongyu