The Irish Times view on food security: time is short to avert a crisis

Much of the wealthy world is facing a testing winter with adverse conditions lingering throughout 2027 as food inflation, high energy costs and rising general inflation hit home. This is a mild version of what threatens developing countries, notably many in Africa; a food security crisis with the inevitability that many people will starve without a coordinated international intervention.

This has been a looming risk for months due to conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, which is disrupting the production and distribution of grain, fertiliser and energy. This is predicted to curb production of wheat, maize and rice next year. Climate-related extreme weather events are heightening food insecurity. These circumstances are exacerbated by withdrawal of overseas aid by some rich countries and an El Niño, a natural warming period predicted to be the worst in 1,000 years. Meanwhile, there is a dearth of political leadership as geopolitics has undermined the role of the United Nations.

Anticipating the El Niño, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Food Programme launched an appeal for $202 million targeting 22 high-risk countries. It has secured a mere $40 million. Already, nearly 300 million people suffer from severe food insecurity.

Food security specialists Cary Fowler and Tom Arnold, writing in The Irish Times, have warned that “despite these steadily increasing risks there has been an alarming lack of political action and resultant preparedness”. They still believe hunger can be substantially eliminated by 2050, by applying the lessons of the Green Revolution and the deployment of new technologies including genomics in generating resilient plant species. Sustainable progress requires, however, an end to damaging conflicts, moves to ensure supports reach the most vulnerable and the scaling-up of agriculture research.

That will challenge political leaders in developing states, but the international community must play a partner role, backed by the provision of adequate climate finance. This sits comfortably with Ireland, which has credibility in providing aid which has a lasting social and economic impact in least developed countries.

It is in a position to help move food and nutrition security up international agendas. Taoiseach Micheál Martin should underline to the incoming UN secretary general that this must be an immediate global priority. Under its EU presidency remit, Ireland can help conclude negotiations for Europe’s next multi-annual budget, advocating to protect and increase EU official development assistance and humanitarian aid allocations for fragile and conflict-affected states. This collective action could help avoid the spectre of millions of people facing acute hunger or famine-level conditions in the months to come and beyond.