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The Grocer reported on export restrictions and the coronavirus. COVID-19’s threat to food supplies is causing some countries to get jittery, triggering painful memories of 2007-08 when export bans led to a global food shortage and price spikes. But a key difference today is that there are currently no widespread shortages of food. Senior Research Fellow Joseph […]

Sohu News published an article on how export restrictions and panic purchasing are causing prices to soar. In spite of restrictions, Senior Research Fellow David Laborde stated, export restriction policies are still limited, so there is no need to worry about the food crisis at this stage. Division Director Rob Vos added, “What is certain is that even if (food) production is stopped […]

Beef Central reported on the fear of a global food crisis. Production levels and global stocks for staple foods are at an all-time high and world prices for most food commodities have been remarkably stable since 2015. Many countries, as COVID-19 has spread, began to restrict exports which has caused much of this fear. FAO and IFPRI, […]

Grist reported on panic food shopping and if there is a legitimate cause for it. Senior Research Fellow Emeritus, Shenggen Fan stated that “COVID-19 is a health crisis. But it could also lead to a food security crisis if proper measures are not taken.” IFPRI researchers in How much will global poverty increase because of COVID-19? predicted that the number […]

Antpedia (China) published an article on the 2020 Global Food Policy Report. The article stressed recommendations about food systems, poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, and how during this epidemic, more inclusive food systems are needed.

Dienas Bizness (Latvia) published an article charting how countries are restricting exports and the danger those actions pose. Nevertheless, if there are any further export bans and desperate attempts to buy food raw materials, the situation could also become much gloomier. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber stated, “We can create a crisis where there is really no crisis.”

Telos-eu.com (France) published an op-ed by Senior Research Fellow Antoine Bouet who stated that beyond the health issue, food security could also become an issue as COVID-19 spreads across the continent. He writes, “Africa is dependent on world trade for its food security. Global food production is currently satisfactory; however, some producing countries, in a somewhat irrational panic, are beginning […]

Modern Ghana published an article on the shocking rapid increase in food prices over a number of weeks. The 2020 Global Food Policy Report revealed that lack of infrastructure and skills is holding back the development of food supply chains in low-income Africa and Asia, especially where the potential is greatest: in small towns and intermediate cities near rural farmlands. […]

Yahoo News reported on how USDA is trying to allocate funds to farmers from the latest stimulus package. The calculations based on similar calculations from the previous subsidies might be trickier based on the impact from COVID-19. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber commented, “I am not sure how you would separate out price impacts from COVID versus other market factors.” […]

Yahoo News (UK & Ireland) reported on the country’s requirement to battle the spread of COVID-19 by enforcing a two-week lockdown. Those who live day-to-day as informal food traders and those who rely on these people, the lockdowns have come as a shock as governments attempt to impose WHO social isolation measures. According to Danielle Resnick, a senior research […]

On May 8, the Food Security Portal will host a webinar on important food crisis risk monitoring efforts. The event will highlight priority research and policy questions, identify gaps in existing monitoring efforts, and pinpoint opportunities for collaboration to inform policy.  Food security and nutrition security, particularly in low-income countries, continue to face significant challenges, from […]

Los Angeles Times reported on how the coronavirus pandemic is short-circuiting the intricate network of producers and suppliers needed to power the global food system.  Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber commented that “the system has evolved to be highly efficient; able to get food from Asia or South America onto the grocery store shelves within days. Now we have […]

Center for Global Development published an article on recent work by Senior Research Fellow Xiaobo Zhang who is analyzing the toll COVID-19 is taking on small- and medium-sized businesses to ensure that policy measures are appropriately designed to meet their needs.   

New York Times published an article on US farm subsidies as part of the new federal relief bill. The bill allots as much as $23.5 billion in assistance to farmers, a key constituency of President Trump’s, in the middle of an election year. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber stated that “Farmers in Midwestern states like Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota — as well […]

Digital Chicago Tribune reported on more subsidies coming the way of farmers in the new federal relief bill. As much as $23.5 billion in assistance for farmers is in the bill. According to Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber, farmers in Midwestern states as well as in Texas and Kansas reaped much of the $26 billion spent in the past two years to blunt […]

ScienceNet.com (China) published an article about restricting food trade. Many experts said that global food stocks are sufficient, but with the spread of the epidemic, international food market trends should be closely monitored, and export restrictions are completely unnecessary. Emeritus Research FellowShenggen Fan believes that the ban may be out of psychological panic. More information from the IFPRI blog, COVID-19: Trade restrictions […]

LiveMint published an op-ed by Dean Niraj Kumar (Development Management Institute, Patnaand) and Research Fellow Anjani Kumar on the impact COVID-19 is having on agriculture. A payment of Rs. 2,000 to Indian farmers by April is a welcome step. However, considering the losses to the farmers, it’s a paltry amount. We need to make arrangements to ensure the continuance of agricultural operations, […]

Boston Magazine (USA) published an article about food supplies and how damaging the impact of COVID-19 could become. Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division Director Rob Vos expects to see “possible shortages for fresh fruits and vegetables, as these are labor-intensive in harvesting, handling and distribution and hence could be affected by labor shortages … and social distancing requirements. These activities […]

Capital Public Radio (USA) published an article about possible food shortages. The interview cited from the IFPRI research blog, As COVID-19 spreads, no major concern for global food security yet by Division Director Rob Vos and Senior Research Fellows Will Martin, and David Laborde that stated there are enough stores of staple items globally to prevent shortages. Even in China, food supplies have remained adequate, with some stress on poultry and pork supply […]

Politico reported on the US Federal Relief Bill that would give farms about 23 million. Senior Research Fellow Joseph Glauber stated that the stimulus funds, trade aid, and traditional farm subsidies could total around $50 billion in fiscal 2020 alone. “Unprecedented to say the least. I am not sure how you would separate out price impacts from COVID-19 versus other market […]