Mentioned until now as a major risk, “food shortages will materialize”, affirmed Joe Biden after G7 and NATO summits, assuring that the United States like Canada, major producers of cereals, would increase their exports accordingly.
As part of the G7, the two countries "have talked about how we can increase and distribute food resources more quickly. We are also talking with the Europeans and all other countries to suspend all restrictions on their food exports. “, indicated the American president in front of the press in Brussels.
The United States is also studying “a very significant investment to meet humanitarian assistance needs, particularly in terms of food aid,” he said.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron called on Thursday Moscow to be "responsible" by allowing sowing in Ukraine to take place, failing which the war will cause in 12 to 18 months "an inevitable famine", with grain shortages in the Middle East. East and North Africa - where Egypt depends in particular "80%" on Russian and Ukrainian cereals to feed its population.
Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh and Nigeria, very populous countries, are the main importers of cereals from Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking as President of the Council of the EU "and in connection with the African Union", the French President proposed in Brussels an "initiative for food security" with first of all an "emergency plan for release of stocks in the event of a crisis to avoid any shortage and moderate price increases".
Another aspect, "obtain a multilateral commitment not to impose restrictions on the export of agricultural raw materials".
President Emmanuel Macron, during a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, March 24, 2022 Thomas COEX AFP
In addition, he wished "as of this summer coordinated action by producing countries to temporarily raise production thresholds when possible" and "to set up a mechanism for allocating volumes to guarantee access for all, in particular most vulnerable, in sufficient quantity and at reasonable prices".
Emmanuel Macron also suggests helping production in the most affected countries, "by significantly increasing investments in sustainable food production and agricultural value chains".
He specified that he had presented this initiative to his counterparts in the G7, for many large producers, in order to engage them in this approach, and wanted to expand it within the framework of the G20.
© 2022 AFP