Open invite to view high-level discussion exploring global food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic

18 November 2021, China: Stakeholders working and interested in the field of agricultural science and international development are being invited to a high-level discussion exploring how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food security for millions of people around the world.

A panel of experts – including senior representatives from the African Union, China Agricultural University, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Zambia, and CABI – will meet to generate insights, opinions and lessons learned, focusing on how to sustain food security even amidst a global shock.

The webinar will take place between 8.30am and 10.00am GMT on Thursday 25 November 2021 – as part of CABI’s mission to help countries, particularly CABI’s Member Countries, to develop quick recovery plans from the pandemic and to ensure a better response to future events which may affect food security. The event is being organised by CABI and its online news service SciDev. Net. You can register for the webinar here.

Ruth Douglas, Deputy Editor at SciDev.Net, will provide a welcome and introduce the panellists before Dr Daniel Elger, CEO CABI, will make opening remarks. Opening statements will then be made by the panellists and a moderator-led discussion will follow to close the event.

The panellists are:

• Shenggen Fan, Chair Professor and Dean, Academy of Global Food Economics and Policy, China Agricultural University and former director, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI);
• Tariq Khan, Adviser and Director General, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan
• H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture
• Moses Mwale, Director of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Zambia
• Neil Willsher, Global Director for Value Chains and Trade, CABI

The panellists will discuss issues including policy measures and institutional linkages, agricultural innovations and research, the impact of climate change, hunger and obesity, meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, and food value chains, infrastructure and mobility in times of pandemic.

Dr Elger said, “While the COVID-19 pandemic is an undoubted health crisis, what has been less discussed is the devastation it has caused to food systems, endangering food security in many countries, particularly in the Global South. There are now clear lessons from the pandemic, especially on weaknesses in food supply chains and social protection.

“CABI sees this event as an important opportunity to explore insights, opinions and lessons learned on how to sustain food security amidst a global shock, to ask which policies and interventions have the greatest impact, and to explore how best to strengthen our resilience to, and preparedness for, future shocks.”