Comment: Food prices could surge but protectionism is not the answer

Covid-19 is amplifying the risk of a worldwide food-price spike, which would trigger outright crises in many developing countries. Governments must work together to address the risk of disruptions to food supply chains

Some countries are stockpiling food such as wheat through export bans or accelerated imports

Even before the pandemic, there were signs that global food prices could soon surge.

Extreme weather events induced by climate change have become more common. African swine fever wiped out over one-quarter of the world’s pig population last year, causing food prices in China to increase by 15 to 22 per cent year on year so far. The worst locust blight in 70 years destroyed crops in East Africa recently, while in Kenya the price ...