wants to come as well for eastern areas of south africa where we have seen some flooding. butts of cape town quiet with sunshine. ah. bottles in cameron's rivers come on england. st. plastic is everywhere. but if cloth holes can be fishing boats and bubble gum, wellington boots, what more can be done with this plague polymers? earth right? re imagining plastic on al jazeera, global food costs of hit a record high. so what's driving that? some blame war in ukraine and throughout the sewing price is the stabilizing many countries. what's the way out of the crisis? this is inside stored. ah

hello, welcome to the program. i'm still robin near the end of last year. the number of people in the world reach 80000000000 according to the united nations food program, a combination of geo politics, climate events, and slow economic recovery after the pandemic opposing a risk to our global food security. not all of us will face the consequences in the same degree. the un says the war between russia and ukraine could force a fragile system of global food supplies to fail. moscow and keep estimated to have accounted for 30 percent of wheat exports. among other staples, the middle east, north africa, and the horn of africa suffering the most from that conflict with food shortages and price increases across europe, simultaneous crises, and food distribution,

energy access, and fertilizer supplies shots the global food system. last year, when the war began, the un food and agriculture organizations as places like the united kingdom, could see empty shelves well into 2023. in other places around the world backlog at container port stemming from pandemic locked downs and a shortage of truck drivers is adding to the challenge of delivering food to everyone. apart from manmade factors, the climate also poses a severe challenge in pakistan. for example, recurrent floods that have destroyed crops of also left the country with almost no dry land. and that means the effects of those floods could be felt for decades to come. energy giants, b, p, and shell, announce record profits this year, driven by the war in europe. the announcements promote calls for the u. k. government to levy windfall taxes on energy revenues. ah, so for more in this,

i'm joined by august on this edition of inside story in santa christina, italy. is monica tova economist for the un food and agriculture organization. in helsinki is sarah shift link assistant professor in supply chain management and social responsibility at the hankens school of economics and in otto is chet bouquet. good in ne gua professor and university research chair at the university of ottawa will welcome to all of my guests and thank you for joining us on this edition of inside story, monica, can i just begin with you in santa christina? i'm in the official body. the food agricultural organization of the un tells us that the food price index for the $5.00 staples that are normally assessed has dropped for the 10th consecutive month. yet we're also as a global community experiencing some of the highest food prices ever. in most parts

of the world, what's going on? it's a very confusing picture that's being told. yes, thank you. thank you for the question in this confusing, but it's not confusing. once we analyze it, going to be father that fail fort rising. banks looks at commodities and i to looks at bank, go monte piece. and then i see they put quotation and to each dos, come on a piece on being grabbing between companies between private sector etc. at santana in our song, since it's a composite in banks, it hides a lot of changes that the behind in this in backs. so one example in the us emission be saw that the vegetable oil, but i seized bailey and sugar, but i see the crime while the syrian but i see the main stable. but in see any osby have read that, that decline. and we also have an i speech increased sampling discount was it in banks, you gather all that all answer very hand on all the crime. the next point to make

is that the consumers are not buying commodities in bank than buying flower than buying bonanza than buying other goods. when the sharon on that commodity is there, like the really small on, couldn't be allowed in the small depends on you buy. but that is the cost of energy that vance that goes to the then goes to the cost of farm, produce latin that is that cost well, cost of and the in boards, lane bonanza, that impacts that. but i see that the consumers and bang on any dilemma. okay, let me just bring in a search of like in helsinki here, because a to add to what monica said, vegetable oil prices of decline, but 2.9 percent di reprice is declined by one point full meet cost decreased by one percent. this is, according to the f, a o sugar cost decreased by 1 point one percent. how do these figures so relate to sort of pre and post cove it pandemic levels?

it can, we can, we can use use that as a starting point. well, i think i'm very different marketplace now across the whole supply chain. so it's not just the basic input. but if you're talking food prices, it also includes the transport costs and costs include a lot of labor and we're seeing labor shortages. we're seeing maybe a lack of mobility of labor that would previously had. so there's a lot of things that feed into what consumer prices are in the end. say there is a disconnect between the commodity price as monica said. and what we're seeing in the supermarket in the restaurant. so when we're talking about going out for pizza night or something. well, we are looking at the whole complex of things. it's not just the flower that goes into that. but we are having much more complexity there in the market has shifted significantly, both the labor market, but also consumers are consuming in different ways. now, we've seen a price online deliveries a lot about food being online delivered. that's an additional labor step there. so

things are very complex, it's not just commodities, there's a lot of other stuff that's going into that and the world is a very different place and it was creep 2020 days. we're going to pick all of this because it's 70, i just a moving parts to this story. it is quite complicated for, for any of our views and probably who, who got to try to fathom how to and pick it all at you big to be i can come to you and also because, i mean, there was recently the world economic forum that happened to doug also, and food security was one of the you might say top issues to be discussed at all levels. and there were related debates to the food security about social stability and climate change. you can't really talk about food security without talking about those subjects to and what's the impact of those sorts of conversations that are happening or have happened in devils when it comes back to each sovereign country around the world, including canada. i mean that having those debates there as well do i agree with the dog that is happening or begin pass on some security or some security

disability individuals to have access to nutritious food? i've all times, i need to look at it, but that is not reality. right now there have been a very big shift and more and more people are classified as being hunger with the fund and the war in russian drain. and they should put that into context, you know, respect to climate dislikes. you would see also correlation with the increased in partners joan joan droughts, in many locations, there are more and more increase with insecurity. so now of course, there are different ways of getting the strategy but lane so about putting the pins in the rice context, respects to the input from a different state borders input from, from different governments and also put on the right innovations and the science integrations are in helping address some of these challenge. well,

let's talk about one of those issues a little bit more in depth. a sustainable production, sir, if i can come to you in helsinki, because the impact could well be pretty severe on climate change in job creation. it's the 2 things that are quite linked to when it comes to trying to improve industry. i mean, such moves to improve sustainable production, take time and they cost money, but it's a continual debate, isn't it? i mean, what are the big sticking points in that debate? it is a huge debate in terms of cost. obviously every country around the world is trying to save somewhere and we just don't have enough money to go around in most cases. but then there's also the question of, of the solving bass at a national level, or are we solving as an international level? there are $8000000000.00 of us on this planet, and we want to have food to go around and, well, i live in finland. so it's not like we're going to start growing oranges here any time soon as much as we might want to localize our production. so we are looking at

an international picture quite a complex picture of how we distribute the food that we didn't have. we've seen that, for example, with the intervention of the u. n. in ukraine to try and get that grain out to try and get to those critical areas about the horn of africa and others. so it is a global picture, but we're also seeing quite a bit of nationalism in that regard as well. our country comes 1st, we need to support our own citizens 1st. so it is a delicate balance of, well, is it global, are we going more national here is very, very political. and we talk about food supply chains as well as other supply chain that food is kind of the most basic item that we all desperate any. i'm so glad you mentioned nationalism because that was my next question. what's come to monica in santa christina? because your analysis would obviously include national sovereignty of various countries and people within those countries and their national governments would want to reassure them that the food that they produce, even on their own land,

is secure. and they have nothing to worry about because you're bored as a safe and hopefully your growing capacity and your production capacity is safe until you start exporting more than you keep at home. countries like morocco of seen this where they've actually sent so much abroad. they haven't got enough of themselves, especially in this was quite evident during the pandemic of how do you actually assess the way countries keep some of the produce for themselves without being accused of hoarding. welcome to the his door. and that too, but i'll thank the van domestic mark and tonight there is nothing that will bent them from doing that. however, the often the case be better dangerously actions and be so and these happenings last year after the von in, you claims donte that often the slate restrictions aren't into that use in any i've been up to mining and the markets on thank you for that. so you will see that the countries because they are boni bank might not be enough supplies maintenance and

you enjoy your very southern hans of any sound that measures that on stopping the export the saudi skin bomb or only in 2022. we saw it to be that ice in some countries. so then something grand, these happens, the pisces immediately start increasing and this eskimiya being more problems contained, bought in countries. trabusia could just bring you in here as well of if you are holding an agreement we yes, i agree. respect to summer. i believe that it's a balance. so food production should be such a way that that would be enough, you know, for, for in the region are in the country, but also i just some time trying to punch. and i didn't mention that the issue either one of those cases is you know, 1st of what happened with respect to eat. i shot h and then i was,

i doesn't record auction. i mean many are the production in some weeks that calls into question over reliance. on certain types of food or the decline, for instance. and in the 4 different counties, different countries to diversify the type of food that is there a lot of different types of food that off i spend a lot or even some position for instance, or the defense or the aspects of the system that can, you know, help alleviate some of these issues versus looking at the same level as we, you know, we have, some are often perhaps we coordinate collected on monday, july prompts. i did up producing different locations east quite a bit that you've produced in logic one to be is that actually helps their lives? the local food system. i'm bring the boston resume. yes. so that when you have some disruptions for us, they wouldn't have a lot of ship offs in the markets to increase the frightened or so much, you know,

some of the issues as some of the aspects of a food systems that you know where you have to tap into of sleep and i believe that address could definitely help reduce some of these from the end of the day. you still need to grow all of his food in some shape or form several times about to you talked about the ukraine, grain shipments and the agreement between russia. obviously that was all habit out last july in 2022. but before i go to monica, because it is actually her agency that saying that because the agreement is so shaky, sarah. the fact that sir, til i didn't get out on time, the fact grain didn't get out on time. we'll effect food production in 2023. i mean, how bad is it going to get before it gets better? absolute game in agriculture do have quite long lead times. it's not like it can suddenly decide to increase production for it next week. so the issue with fertilizer and having enough fertilizer to actually have the right yield and all of those agriculture productions that is

a huge issue. and that's going to follow us around just because, well, it takes some time to actually grow your crops and you need a fertilizer at certain points in time and be able to actually do this. so this is a shadow that hangs over the globe of food production. and then of course we're going into all the other issues with climate change as well, where we have seen huge droughts around the world really this year that are affecting agricultural production. then of course a big floods elsewhere, it mentioned pakistan beginning there. so we are in a very complex picture here that all feats together to create this huge instability that is going to continue to follow us. and because there, so many parts to lead is very difficult to predict. well, this is going to be the magic solution and because there isn't one, there is no one thing that can fix the situation on the supply side, but also on the consumer side. it as a food is a very emotional issue. so it is something that we react very strongly to. we saw that a side of the pandemic with all of the panic buying of various comfort food items. but we're also seeing it now in market changes that when we do have export bands

going a place that is usually quite quick reaction to that from the markets of what are we going to do? what happens now? how is that going to influence our own market? so it is very, very complex issue. so look at like about to them because of that whole ukraine. russia issue that's ongoing. i mean, it's been the top story globally for nearly a year. now. do we have a false impression that ukraine and russia are the only 2 countries that can produce the grain of that the global market requires because there hasn't been so much of a shudder in asia pacific huzzah. so if i may go back for one question before i answer the question about the ukraine and sherman, i hear about production increase and get a little a little nervous because the production increase, if it's good to include that of action, but you can do it in a sustainable manner, the same applies for me as they've applies for for off and could opt off on crops. it's a great idea. they can provide timely hoops to come to the store,

to peep onto pharmacy, which our device will not be able to be going say, mainstream grams, but the sustainability conservation. the environmental sustainability is in the elk grove shall we have seen when the week was not used in baton that there's that many years ago. and even that, that van production eventually assault ghostly than that, the country abandoned the is, i'm sorry, you can anisha, you can and i show on too many important, very significant. but i do use us all of c by declaring read names. and then now then just that will be drank, and c, and some pharmacy or off. yeah, we have not any, any seen that much of them be crying in that there was every crime in the exports from the ukraine seems like will not accept the black c points between the end of february. and i'm going to come to the terms and when we,

when we know that part of the history, what i want to know is why we have this, perhaps idea that we relying just on ukraine and on russia when in fact countries such as indonesia, malaysia, we are not that high, i was there was this idea, i think in the public persona, that if we don't get we were all going to stop. but that's not the case. the people in asia pacific are not panicking about it in the same way. and i'm getting notes from helsinki and all to wellness, but we have to address how people in indonesia are reacting a malaysia and the philippines because they deal with a different type of serial rice. they do it to be blessed by linda and the expanse of been their b i. c 's increased difficulty problems, also many done eating off of it, but i saw that knew the funny example. so these are very connected mind. in fact, you have this year, you had that i chronicle of international international keeps exporting to the global markets. you have any concrete up in australia and australia to the extent

possible convenience to explore, given the logistical constraints. maybe somehow thinking can say more about the logical constraints in australia, they keep exporting by them as the markets that the production from ukraine remains quite important. and if i may add, is that that last year we have seen some decline in this production and expand, but the c, m b on going to see even a bigger decline because the farmers are knocking money. took that, i'd use the next go up to stand the next company song, for example, the annie and they planted between them. he is wanting to, sunglass, and it was last year with a chip in the and let me come to you. and also because i, we then looking really at the most serious topic of conversation when it comes to food diversification and low lowering within that, the global, a carbon footprint that scientists keep suggesting a governments keep promising. yes, i agree, and that is actually one of the guess the most from from it's in aspect. so mitigation of the current crisis in my opinion because it is not ok to destruction

in one part of the world destruct to be in touch with suspense. so what that would guess, what would change our sustainable to increase that inability. it is important that we embrace this concept of verification and take it seriously because we variables integration brings about stability, you know, because then people can produce their own food. and different cultures have different types of serial. and in fact, this year is a un internationalists of military which is also serial. and they're similar last week, you know, are we find it and you can see can grow in a drought condition. there are many, many, many, many other crops like back that can help bring about the stability if embraced as the next crop. so i believe that there are sufficient quite important and you would also help or control some of the climate issues affects that, you know, as to the, not for sure. and the other way around looking for explain it. so in britain,

some of these are the options, some of these on time if you can actually help relies with systems and bring about that and watching you to change that way. you can have more options, are, can have more in terms of purchasing food and also more stability in terms of the issues cost by the destruction. so can i bring you in here? where does the public private partnership actually develop a such? you know, often we see the government wanting to invest in, in new technologies to benefit the community at large. and if that is in food production, you need experts to come in because of the funding is required. what's the balance when it comes to making sure that you know, there is the issue of supply supply chain proficient professionalism. and at the same time, social responsibility to the community. absolutely. so love interconnected issues here and yes, there's many policy documents in place to say, okay,

we're going to shorten our food supply chains. focus more on getting food from our country within our region. but it also needs to follow through from industry, from producers, from manufacturers down the line. and in the, and also from the consumer. it is yes, we want to switch to things that are easier to grow in drought conditions for example. but that in the end is something that needs to happen on the consumers plate as well. if people are unwilling to switch to something that is maybe not your traditional serial by is the one that we can continue growing and we can, can you growing at scale that in the end doesn't tell whether we have policy buying into that or what we call industry buying into that. there's also this consumer buy enough. what do we want to consume? what do we want to have here? and that's kind of with the season ality as well. it's something that often comes up of. do you need to have strawberries around the year, the, or the sort of things that we've become quite used to our global food system that is very highly interconnected. and we're used to having these global trade flows in

our food systems and our food supply chains. and that is being challenged at the moment. i think we've also seen that with non food items during the pandemic or the result of transport issues realizing how complex our supply chains are and how interconnected they really are. because, well, we are substituting things. so even if you're usually eating a different serial, if a price for that one goes up, you're substituting with something else. so it is affecting the whole serial mike, it is whether or not a particular area has shortage at the moment to be cage's want to come back to you cuz we're sort of getting close to the end of our program. but government and business leaders often get to the cup the coppers conferences every november. i mean, we're heading towards one in this coming november. it will be in the united arab emirates, food production, foods, scarcity and food security will be part of that conversation. how important are gatherings like this, and do they really solve the issue or the garbage importance and it's not,

this will be a very good medium to advocates for government intervention. i guess, you know, $0.40 to be implemented has to be the point. it's will by the difference elements are because the regional prices and the regional financing through the option to work to come together up to become a level of prices. story governments are willing to invest in their system for some, in our research on size, in our vision. i to develop new technologies off priceless to support. imagine us more than me just give disasters in the countries and looking at them watch new or aspects of of which is which is at the emergence. alternatives to, to the standards. i think that would conjugate significantly, in fact the un, our food system, stomach intransigence, one, there was a recommendation that he governments can invest one percent of the agriculture rigidity back on science and innovation. and it just, it was systems that could help us. some of these issues and help increase our,

their risk and their, their last parents. i made a point about cultural shifts about funds. you must not being willing to make sure that i believe when the government is involved. and what is the emphasis on these are all kinds of things. and when everybody recognizes those prices, people are willing to give you surprise these alternatives already in different parts of the world. so just a matter of the industry being encouraged are required to adopt some of these alternatives and we bring about diversity needed to sustain. okay, let me just bring a sarah here because obviously, you know, while you have all of these politicians jostling for position and they will come november, how are countries using sort of food availability as sustainability or security as a, as a strategy for sort of geopolitical power because you know, food is power, isn't it? absolutely, i mean, any sky skirts can be power in the end. so you see that used as soft power

sometimes so as seen, for example, ukraine utilizing grain ambassador is to african countries to market their grain. and also market relations to ukraine is definitely a political element in the food supply chains as well. it will be international collaboration that we need where we need to interact with each other, and that will also be a game of power in the end. it is. we see some countries trying to stop pile things, trying to make sure that they are well off whether that is with food items or whether that is with fertilize and similar things. so we've got countries trying to back down the hatches. they are, we have seen the export restrictions of various countries. so it is very much a political element. they are to try and support both the world and other countries, but also your own own homeland or monica. just briefly. i mean, inflation obviously is a subject that sitting on the airwaves across the globe at the moment, you know, pakistan, lebanon, egypt, morocco, all, as well as many more across europe,

all being affected. how closely you monitoring this when you're analyzing the data, you need month by month to tell the world whether prices go up or down on these commodities while the front. but i think thinks that not include the considerations of that price inflation, because it's, it's about commodities versus fall. but we, i'm wanting dunning, the development on that, but i of them, but i see on that, eat down and are very closely closer and closer, mostly. and close all the countries where we shall see or what does happen, certainly in the coming few weeks, we'll have to leave it, i'm afraid. but thank you very much for very interesting conversation. and thank you to all of august sir monica that over sarah shifflett. and she bought e k, who had an a grey and thank you to for watching as well. thank you for, of course sir, watching the program, and then you watch at any time by visiting our website at altos, there at dot com. and to further discussion get facebook page. that's facebook dot com forward slash ha inside story. you can also join the conversation on twitter

handle. there is at a j in science story from he's a whole rahman from the whole team here in doha. thanks very much for your time and your company. aah! and women run micro businesses are key to santa goals development and to improved food security. access to finance helps them succeed since 2014, nearly a $180.00 micro enterprises, collectives and small businesses across cynical, received concession re financing. these loans were made possible by an initiative

administered by the q right good. will fund the q 8 fund partners in development debating the issues of the day, the 5 largest polluters of the world are in india, jump into the stream. they made their money on coal. they made their money on field . convincing those folks. no, we need to go. green is very, very difficult, giving all of voice we chose to live because we wanted to escape warren violence. when you humanize this narrative, you allow people to really understand the reality and break down misconceptions. the st on al jazeera. this is one of the most astounding technological revolutions in all of this, make our planner great the day. we have to meet the seo tool emission targets electric oscillated mitchum in motion many to be mind to where people are just talking about wind and solar said that's going to solve the problem. it won't. the world of business and commerce is driving energy transition is the promise of clean

energy and illusion. the dock side of green energy on al jazeera. ah, o l g 0. with every oh, lou. ah, hello there, i'm the clock. this is in these are life and coming up in the next 60 minutes mass barrels in syria and turkey as the death toll.