short briefing on how Covid-19 is impacting global food security.

1. COVID-19 and Global Food Security
David Laborde
International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI
CFS meeting, May 13, 2020
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the presenters and
do not necessarily represent those of IFPRI, the CGIAR or the funding
agencies (BMGF, BMZ, the EC, PIM-CGIAR and USAID) of this work
https://www.ifpri.org/project/covid-19-food-trade-policy-tracker

2. From Health to
Economic to
Food Crisis?
Economic
Crisis
Supply
Disruptions
India: "I earn 600 rupees a day and have five people to
feed. We will run out of food in a few days."
US: Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, at a
drive thru distribution in downtown Pittsburgh
Mali: "With bans on gatherings to fight Covid-19, I do
not know how we will meet production targets."
US: meatpacking plants close amid COVID-19
pandemic
Philippines: Manila, Grocery shop March
16, after announcement lockdown
Panics
US: California, Trader Joe's grocery
shop: pasta and canned food. March 13

3. • Main impacts on food
access caused by the
global recession
A 5% global economic
downturn increases
the number of extreme
poor by almost 150
million (+20%)
Source: IFPRI; Laborde, Martin and Vos, 2020
https://www.ifpri.org/blog/poverty-and-food-insecurity-could-grow-dramatically-
covid-19-spreads
a. Impact on Global Food Insecurity and PovertyGlobal Economic Crisis
148
79
42
20%
23%
15%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
0
40
80
120
160
World Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia
Increase no. of poor (millions) % increase poverty (RHS)

4. Source: IFPRI, Laborde, Martin and Vos, 2020
https://www.ifpri.org/blog/poverty-and-food-insecurity-could-grow-dramatically-
covid-19-spreads
b. Impact of Recession on NutritionGlobal Economic Crisis
• …. would further lead to
stark declines in
consumption of
nutritious foods, like
fruits & vegetables
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
* Processed food not included in the graph
(% change in food consumption by item)

5. Food importing countries affected by
export restrictions (% of imports in Kcal)
Panics and hoarding
• So far, 21 countries have
responded with export
restrictions (11 countries
have still active restrictions)
• Affecting about 5% of world
food market (share in
calories traded), (2%
currently)
• G20 ministers and WTO
have called for open trade
to avoid repeating
the problems of 2007-
2008—skyrocketing world
prices
https://www.ifpri.org/project/covid-19-food-trade-policy-tracker
Source: IFPRI COVID-19 FOOD TRADE POLICY TRACKER