Global Food Shortage Looms as Coronavirus Disrupts Supply Chains, UN and WTO Warn

In a joint statement, the Chinese Qu Dongyu, who heads the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are sounding the alarm and calling on world leaders to address the issue.

The three organizations are concerned about the "slowdown in the movement of agricultural and food industry workers" and "delays at borders for merchandise containers" that are leading to "spoilage of perishable products and an increase in food waste". For them, "when it comes to protecting the health and well-being of their citizens, countries must ensure that all trade measures do not disrupt the food supply chain". The leaders of the FAO, WHO and WTO stress to governments that "it is in times like these that international cooperation is essential".

They fear that the rush to find a response to the covid-19 pandemic, "will inadvertently create unjustified shortages of essential products and exacerbate hunger and malnutrition".