As we commemorate World Food Day, the global food crisis is being magnified by the war in Ukraine. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) predicts that more than one third of Ukraine’s crops and agricultural land will not be harvested or cultivated this year. This is the fourth global food crisis in 15 years – as we recover from this crisis, we must put solutions in place to prevent the next one. UNDP's Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems team is putting its weight behind this medium and long term thinking.  

The UN-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative has so far freed 6.4 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain for export, much of it to Africa which relies on such supplies. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said "getting more food and fertilizer out of Ukraine and Russia is crucial to further calm commodity markets and lower prices". If further crises are on the horizon, what can we do to prevent them? And if Africa is at the mercy of global export shortages, how can we support the continent to increase its ability to meet its food needs? 

The shocks of the last three years have exposed many weaknesses in food systems. UNDP’s Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems Practice (FACS) aims to build food and agricultural commodity systems that are resilient, equitable and sustainable. Aligned with the recommendations of the UN Global Crisis Response Group, the system now needs to move from recovery to resilience and transformation.

Resilience was the first weakness to emerge. In March 2022, restricted supply pushed the World Food Programme’s Food Price Index to record levels. With harvests concentrated in just 6 breadbaskets, the chance of multiple failures is increasing as the effects of climate change combine with the continued threat of COVID-19 and further conflicts. We need to urgently diversify our food production and its geographic concentration. Strengthening local food supply chains and markets is one way to build resilience.

Equity was exposed when food and commodity prices rocketed, leading to food export bans and fears of social unrest. We must resolve the deep-rooted inequalities that undermine just food systems, ensuring the most vulnerable have access to nutritious and culturally-appropriate food at all times.

Sustainability was highlighted as the effects of the conflict, combined with multiple droughts and heatwaves, challenge the sustainable development focus of agriculture in the run up to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. We need to focus on building regenerative, inclusive, and climate-resilient agricultural practices for long-term sustainability.  

UNDP is developing a comprehensive Food Systems Resilience and Transformation strategy to meet these challenges. The initial proposals are that UNDP should develop and implement systemic solutions in three dimensions: first, laying out systemic governance, programs and policies that promote multi-stakeholder dialogue, effective collaborative action and co-operation; secondly, dealing with structural drivers, the food system challenges of environment, climate change, poverty and inequality, gender and energy; and thirdly, focusing on food supply chains at every stage – production, processing, distribution and consumption – to make them diversified, sustainable and inclusive.