Asia Times published an article on how in just over two months, the world food situation has gone from bad to worse. Calls not to panic fell on deaf ears, even as the Ukrainian military put up stiff opposition to the Russian onslaught. If Ukraine somehow wins the war, it will be decades before its economy and agricultural exports return to their previous levels. Many countries have panicked in the face of global shortages and have subsequently issued export bans. Individual countries can be given considerable leeway to time their actions in accordance with their local political circumstances. To ensure commitment, it is important to establish a small secretariat, with Indonesia in the chair, to monitor and publish the details of implementing the commitments. Transparency is the best enforcement mechanism. Organizations like IFPRI could help fill the gap.
