The risk presents itself in many ways. One of these, which directly affects human survival, is the global food crisis.
How to respond to this crisis is the subject of a reflection signed by Kristalina Georgieva, Sebastián Sosa and Björn Rother for IMF.
There is a need, say the authors, to quickly and adequately support the most vulnerable, poorest people. We need to fight inflation and provide protection to alleviate cost-of-living increases. Effective fiscal measures at the national level are also called for.
Trade, not protectionist choices, is decisive. Compensatory measures are needed from areas with a surplus of food to those where there is a shortage.
We also need to increase food production and improve distribution, with a focus on strengthening supply chains and modernising infrastructure and logistics.
Last but certainly not least, measures need to be explored to limit the impact of climate change, especially on the societies and economies of the poorest countries.
As can be seen, addressing food insecurity requires a complex and systemic view to ensure effective policy responses. Nothing is detached from the rest: just as an example, the crisis described here is directly linked to improving the level of security (understood in a complex sense).
