Phil Hogan Urges Nations to Step Up Funding for FAO Amid U.S. Withdrawal
- Phil Hogan calls for increased financial support for the FAO as U.S. aid diminishes.
- Current conflicts and climate changes pose risks of food insecurity and hunger crises by 2027.
- Hogan aims to reform the FAO, focusing on combating severe food shortages in vulnerable regions.
SINGAPORE — Phil Hogan, former European Union commissioner and current candidate for director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that other nations must bridge the financial gap left by the United States as it withdraws from various programs. In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Hogan emphasized the necessity for continued financial support for the FAO to address animal disease and food safety issues effectively.
The reduction in U.S. foreign aid, particularly due to the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Trump administration, has prompted concerns regarding global food security. Hogan noted that UN agencies and humanitarian organizations are grappling with funding challenges exacerbated by decreased assistance from major donors.
According to Chris Barrett, an agricultural and development economist at Cornell University, these funding shortfalls hinder essential monitoring systems and limit the capacity to mitigate rising food prices that disproportionately affect poor families. Barrett warned that this could lead to heightened hunger and sociopolitical unrest as citizens become frustrated with government inaction.
Statistics from the World Health Organization and the UN World Food Programme reveal that over a quarter of the global population is projected to face moderate or severe food insecurity in 2025, with over 266 million people experiencing acute hunger this year.
Food Disasters on the Horizon
Hogan indicated that geopolitical conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, are creating a risk of food crises in 2027, compounded by the anticipated impacts of El Niño. The disruptions in trade for fertilizers and energy have raised alarms about a potential global agrifood catastrophe, particularly threatening poorer nations reliant on these supplies.
The conflict in Ukraine has already affected global wheat trade, worsening food security challenges in vulnerable countries. Hogan asserted that climate shocks, fuel crises, and rising interest rates limit the world’s ability to respond effectively to these threats.
We’re going into this on our way to being blind and with one hand tied behind our back in terms of global capacity to foresee and respond to major food crises.
Chris Newton
Food security analyst, International Crisis Group
As a reform plan for the FAO is considered, Hogan acknowledges the need to operate within a tighter budget, prioritizing efficiency and collaboration with other UN agencies. His initial focus will be on relocating staff to “hunger hotspots” where severe food shortages are most pressing.
Hogan also pointed out that the FAO was insufficiently involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a suspended agreement that previously facilitated the export of food and fertilizers from Ukraine amidst ongoing conflicts. He suggested that the agency could have been more proactive in addressing food security issues in coordination with the United Nations.
Experts remain divided on the severity of the situation. While Chris Newton expresses concern over the capacity to respond to food crises, Ian Mitchell from the Center for Global Development offers a more optimistic view, asserting that current grain stockpiles remain adequate, even in the face of a strong El Niño event.
News Courtesy of CNBC
