Population growth, as well as additional consumption due to economic growth in densely populated regions such as Asia and North Africa, have exacerbated the geographic imbalances that have always existed between food production capacities’ and real consumption.
COVID-19 has also brought into question the risks inherent to a global food system that is heavily dependent on global trade and bolstered calls for a return to local food markets and shorter value chains. But throughout the pandemic, food supplies have proven to be resilient, with food trade remaining stable in both quantities and prices. What will be the role of international food trade post COVID-19?
This event is hosted by the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House in partnership with the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) and the Group of Producing Countries from the Southern Cone (GPS).
The discussion is part of the Chatham House Global Trade Policy Forum. We would like to take this opportunity to thank founding partner AIG and supporting partners Clifford Chance LLP, Diageo plc, and EY for their generous support of the forum.
More information on Latin America focused research at Chatham House is available on the Institute’s Latin America Initiative webpage. The Latin America Initiative at Chatham House is supported by BTG Pactual, Cairn Energy plc, Diageo plc, Equinor, Fresnillo Management Services, HSBC and Wintershall Dea.
Participants
Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization
Kenneth Smith Ramos, Former Director of the Trade and NAFTA Office, Ministry of the Economy, Mexico; Member, Mexican Council on Foreign Relations
Chair: Laura Wellesley, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House
