On November 9th, a gathering in Geneva brought together scientists, experts, and diplomats to address the global food crisis, intensified by armed conflicts worldwide, including the situation in Ukraine. The discussion, co-organized by the Geneva Center for Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution and the “Agenzia internazionale di informazione e analisi,” featured scholars and experts from Africa, Switzerland, the United States, and Ukraine.
L. Mychal Jefferson, CEO of Hamershlag Private, underscored the necessity for robust international legislation to combat hunger and war in the 21st century.
«Hunger is on the rise globally for many reasons, including climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and internal conflicts. But with blocked ports and export limits from Russia and Ukraine, countries relying on them for staple foods are at a loss. Fertilizer and fuel shortages are also making it difficult to produce crops like wheat, corn, sunflower, and safflower, complicating a critical planting season in Ukraine», Mr. Jefferson
Deng Bol Gai, a democracy advocate from South Sudan, emphasized the importance of global collaboration to address humanitarian needs and exclude disruptive actors like Russia.
Mykola Volkivskyi, President of the Geneva Center for Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, a scholar at the University of Geneva, and the discussion’s moderator, stressed the urgency of addressing the global food crisis, stating that resolving the problem is necessary “yesterday.” Following the conference, the Geneva Center for Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution jointly decided to establish a dedicated department to research the critical issue of food security. This initiative will involve experts from Africa, Europe, and the United States.
“Today, it is very important to focus on working together to overcome food security. The population of African countries is suffering from hunger and provocative crises that cause wars and military conflicts. The work and goals of the Geneva Centre for Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution will continue to be aimed at strengthening scientific and expert opinions in the field of political science and international relations. And this is only the first event. We have a lot of work ahead of us together,” Dr. Volkivskyi emphasized.
Representatives from the Ukrainian side included traders Konstantin Kuflik and Yuriy Sydorenko from Starox Trade, Qortia AG, Switzerland, and iCORN, Ukraine.
The next event on the agenda for the Geneva Center for Diplomacy is scheduled for December 2023 and will be dedicated to the discussion of an even more pressing global issue – human trafficking in the context of intensified armed conflicts.
