Ukraine: Emmanuel Macron announces a European initiative to alleviate the shortage of cereals

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference, after an extraordinary NATO summit and a meeting of the Group of Seven, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday March 24, 2022. AP - Thibault Camus

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

At the end of the G7 in Brussels, Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of a European initiative to try to alleviate the shortage of cereals which is looming in Africa and the Middle East because of the war in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine are among the world's leading producers of wheat and cereals.

It is a question of setting up a system of solidarity. 

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With our special correspondent in Brussels

,

Anthony Lattier

Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, Ukraine the fourth.

Dozens of countries depend on their production.

If nothing is done now, the French head of state fears the worst in the months to come. 

“

We are entering an unprecedented food crisis, because other countries, Near and Middle East, Africa, are very dependent to feed their population on what is produced today in Ukraine and Russia

 ,” he said. 

Emmanuel Macron is therefore launching a European initiative called FARM.

The French president would like grain stocks to be released to avoid any shortages.

He also wants the countries that can produce more cereals, in order to help those who lack it: " 

Which means very concretely, for us Europeans, to assume to produce more by respecting our standards, by respecting our rules, but by raising the objectives that are ours to contribute to this solidarity effort

 ,” he said. 

This European initiative still needs to be clarified: it will be done in conjunction with the 

World Food Program 

and the African Union. 

►Also listen: Cowpea, an alternative to replace wheat in sub-Saharan Africa?

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  • African Union

  • Emmanuel Macron

  • European Union

  • Food

  • Ukraine

  • Russia