Manila Post published an article stating that in a letter to FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, Agriculture Secretary William Dar called on FAO to “spearhead another global appeal to various countries to keep unhampered the movement of food and agricultural inputs as part of the global effort to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture and food systems.”
Since the war between Ukraine and Russia broke down early this year, inflation and food security worldwide reached alarming levels, triggering huge spikes in the prices of wheat and other important commodities such as oil, fertilizers, and grains. IFPRI stated that “As the war continues, there is a growing likelihood that food shortages, particularly of grains and vegetable oils, will become acute.” (See blog post, Do No Harm: Measured policy responses are key to addressing food security impacts of the Ukraine crisis)