Expert from Argentina: International collaboration will ensure food security

13/12/2020 16:45

On December 10th, 2020, the Faculty of Political Economy, VNU University of Economics and Business, held a webinar with the participation of delegates, teaching staff, fellows and students from international universities all over the world. The keynote speaker at the event was Assoc.Prof.PhD. Patricio Dellagiovanna of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused disruptions to food supply chains, devastated many economies, and reduced society's consumption. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) warned that the Covid-19 pandemic could nearly double the number of emergency food insecurity victims from 135 million in 2019 to 265 million in 2020. In Latin America, severe food shortages had been worsened due to the increasing effects of the Covid-19 epidemic.

When confronted with such a huge challenge, how will the issue of food security in the context of the-post-Covid-19 and in ensuring that the United Nations commitment to sustainable development (SDG #2) be addressed? What is the role of international cooperation in strengthening food security in the region? The Faculty of Political Economy collaborated with Mr. Patricio Dellagiovanna, a well-experienced expert on food security in Latin America, to hold the webinar. In addition to teaching at Pontifical Catholic University, Dellagiovanna is currently a coordinator at the Centre for International Studies - (C.E.I.UCA), a researcher at the Department of Statistical Science "Paolo Fortunati" at Bologna University, and focal point of the FAO Parliamentary Front (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) on combating hunger in the Argentine National House of Representatives.

The webinar spent much of its time discussing global food security issues, especially in Latin America, in the context of post-Covid-19 and in ensuring the United Nations commitment to sustainable development (SDG #2); the role of international cooperation in strengthening international food security. The delegates heatedly discussed and raised interesting issues such as food national autonomy, food security, the PanTHER response framework suggested by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to ensure people's access to food, etc.

The webinar was a forum for lecturers, researchers, and participants to share information, to add practical knowledge in teaching and research, and to suggest further studies in the context of post-Covid-19.

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Phuong Nguyen