Avoiding a Looming Food Crisis
What could be done now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the future to ensure continued global food trade and avoid a global health and food crisis in the Global South?
About This Event
Countries in the Global North have been hardest hit by COVID-19, but the virus has already begun to reach countries in the Global South. These countries' limited access to essential resources that would mitigate the spread of the disease puts them at extreme risk—threatening their health and food supply. Prior outbreaks such as Ebola and SARS have shown the wide range of disruptions to agriculture markets in these areas. What could be done now and in the future to ensure continued global food trade and avoid a global health and food crisis?
About the Speakers
Distinguished Fellow, Global Food and Agriculture
![Council expert Ertharin Cousin](/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumb/public/2020-11/ertharin-cousin-01.jpg?h=c5655b5e&itok=UtwUjrzg)
Prior to joining the Council, Ertharin Cousin served as executive director of the UN World Food Programme where she led the world’s largest humanitarian organization from 2012 to 2017. She also previously served as US ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. Cousin is founder and CEO of Food Systems for the Future.
![Council expert Ertharin Cousin](/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumb/public/2020-11/ertharin-cousin-01.jpg?h=c5655b5e&itok=UtwUjrzg)
Sigrid Kaag
Minister, Foreign Trade & Development Cooperation, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Ibrahim Assane Mayaki
CEO, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
Roy Steiner
Senior VP, Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation
Gilbert Houngbo
President, International Fund for Agriculture & Development