Sudan at a Crossroads: Food Systems, Hunger, and Humanitarian Aid During Civil Conflict
In April 2023, Sudan descended into a violent civil war that has displaced more than 8 million people, destroyed critical infrastructure, and left half the country’s population in need of humanitarian assistance. More than one year later, the unresolved conflict threatens agricultural production, agroprocessing, and trade, exacerbating Sudan’s status as a failed state. Sudan’s trajectory is therefore relevant for the broader community of scholars and practitioners working to enhance food systems and food security in fragile states facing complex humanitarian emergencies.
The war in Ukraine continues to undermine the food security of millions
The war in Ukraine continues to disrupt the country’s agrifood sector, posing an ongoing threat to food security. Damage to critical infrastructure is hindering agricultural activity and the transportation of essential food to local markets and to export destinations. This situation, together with destroyed livelihoods and high inflation, is hampering access to food for millions of Ukrainians.
More than 7 million Ukrainians face acute food insecurity
Ukraine and global agricultural markets two years later
Two years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the war continues to disrupt agricultural production and trade in Ukraine—one of the world's largest agricultural exporters—and poses an ongoing threat to global food security. Yet global commodity markets have adjusted to these disruptions, in part to due to increased exports by other suppliers, including Russia, easing the initial shock.
Navigating Sudan’s Conflict: Research Insights and Policy Implications
The conflict in Sudan has persisted since April 2023, with the violence intensifying in December 2023. As of February 2024, the crisis has displaced more than 7.8 million people internally, with an additional 1.7 million seeking refuge across borders. The violence has now spread into parts of central and eastern Sudan that were initially considered safe havens, resulting in more displacement, and further increasing pressure on states in eastern Sudan.
Promoting food security and environmental sustainability through trade policy in the Southern Cone
This blog is based on finding from the IFPRI discussion paper, From farm to table: Agrifood systems and trade challenges in the Southern Cone.
Introduction
Food security trends in 2024 and beyond
In 2024 food security is likely to remain one of the critical challenges for the world to face. The World Bank has therefore included food and nutrition security among the eight global challenges to address at scale, and has mobilized $45 billion in resources to tackle issues and protect livelihoods worldwide — surpassing its initial projected commitment of $30 billion announced in May 2022.
Disaster Events Lead to Trillions of Dollars in Agricultural Losses: New FAO Flagship Report Released
Over the past three decades, the world lost as much as $3.8 trillion in agricultural products as a result of disaster events, according to a new flagship report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. That equates to a loss of around 5 percent of global agricultural GDP per year and has serious implications for food security, agricultural livelihoods, and the sustainability of the global agrifood system.
Amid conflict and climate risks, FAO highlights crucial role of AMIS in global food market stability
In the face of escalating conflicts, economic slowdowns and downturns, and the growing climate crisis, the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) plays a crucial role in enhancing transparency and policy coordination in international food markets, Maximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has said.
Speaking at an expert panel at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2024 in Berlin, he stressed how AMIS has helped to prevent unexpected price hikes and strengthen global food security.
Impacts of Red Sea shipping disruptions on global food security
The recent attacks of Yemen-based Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea have paralyzed shipping through the Suez Canal, forcing exporters in the Black Sea region and elsewhere to consider alternative—and more costly—shipping routes. In early January, A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the world's second-largest container ship company, announced it would suspend shipments through the Red Sea. Trade volumes in the Suez Canal are down an estimated 40% since the attacks began.
Report launch: The key role of trade in strengthening food security in Latin America and the Caribbean
Recent events such as the war in Ukraine and the El Niño weather cycle have demonstrated how shocks triggering changes in production and distribution of food in one country or region can reverberate around the world, eroding food security for millions if not billions. Efficient, agile, and diverse trade networks can help countries and suppliers to cope with these shocks and strengthen food security. These networks are especially relevant for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).