UNU-CPR’s Dr. Michael Franczak joined the Yale Food Security Conference – speaking alongside other global thinkers to interrogate the fragility of the international food system and the mechanisms available to prevent future disruptions.
Dr. Franczak revisited the political economy of two global food crises, 1972–74 and 2020–23, to explore how international responses to hunger have evolved. Drawing parallels between the oil shocks of the 1970s and the polycrisis of today, he analysed the role of emerging economies and unpacked the long-standing tensions between developed and developing nations in shaping food governance.
Key focal points included:
- The legacy of the 1974 World Food Conference and creation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
- Current debates over international grain reserves and buffer stocks.
- The proposed BRICS Grain Exchange as an alternative to Western-led food regimes.
- Lessons for multilateral coordination in a time of climate-linked price instability.
By comparing past and present crises, the session highlighted how structural dependencies, trade imbalances and U.S. economic policy continue to affect the food security of the most vulnerable countries—particularly small island states and least developed nations.