Miller Magazine Issue: 125 May 2020

The future of food and agriculture Global supply chains face an unprecedented supply and demand shock due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The pandemic creates uncertainty and risks on both sides by forcing the food supply chain in terms of both supply and demand. For example, at the beginning of the pandemic, the demand for flour, pasta and pulses increased radically, and then different consump- tion trends started to be triggered due to stay-home restrictions. These uncertainties in supply and demand cause volatility in product prices. The decrease in purchasing power due to the exchange rates of imported- food-dependent countries may also lead to sudden food price shocks in the upcoming period. In this respect, it is very important to ensure the sus- tainability of the food trade. The global food trade has to be kept going. One of every five calories people eat has crossed at least one international border, up more than 50 percent from 40 years ago. For the moment, the primary problems in the food supply chain, at least in the short term, are more about supply and logistics than production. As Covid-19 continues to disrupt trade flows and keeps more than 2.5 billion people under lockdowns, some grain exporters, including Russia and Kazakh- stan, restrict exports to ensure enough supplies for their own populations. In the future, production disruptions may also occur. This pandemic crisis, which reveals the fragility of the supply chains, may create changes in the chain structures in the medium term. Experts say that food supply chains can be diversified and geographic diversity can be increased in order to distribute risks. Digital channels such as marketplaces can be included in the food systems, shortening the supply chains and increasing their efficiency can take priority. Many countries may focus on developing self-sufficient production strategies and develop incentives and support mechanisms for this. By 2050, the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion. In order to feed this larger, more urban and richer population, food production must increase by 70 percent. Annual cereals production will need to rise to about 3 billion tons from 2.1 billion today. The FAO estimates that approximately 80% of this extra production will be achieved by increase in R&D and technology. I think that the pandemic crisis will accelerate the digitalization process in food and agriculture. Smart farming practices can bring significant gains in terms of food security. However, transforming food systems and promoting sustainable food sys- tems that meet the dietary needs of populations require institutional and be- havioral changes among all food system actors. To move away from ‘business as usual’, all nations will be required to renew the assets used to produce goods and services, or capital stock, develop new solutions, and implement innovative technologies. editor Namık Kemal PARLAK company/millermagazine millermagazine millermagazine Parantez Publishing and Congress Ltd. Gökevler Mah. 2312 Sok. No:16/37 Ginza Corner Plaza, Esenyurt / İstanbul - TURKEY T. +90 212 347 31 64 F. +90 212 212 02 04 www.millermagazine.com info@millermagazine.com On Behalf of Parantez Publishing and Congress Ltd., Owner Zübeyde Kavraz Responsible Manager Muhammed Akatay Editor-in-Chief Namık Kemal Parlak Editors Mustafa Yağmurlu Cemalettin Kanaş Sales and Marketing Ahmet Açıkgöz Inji Aydash Burcu Çetin Art Director and Visual Design Alparslan Murat Aysu Corporate Communication Executive Burak Yalçın Ahmet Hamdi Annaç Consultancy Board Ali İhsan Özkaşıkçı, Chairman of AUSD Mesut Çakmak, Chairman of GUSAD Erhan Özmen, GUSAD Honorary Chairman Bekir Bağış, Chairman of Çukurova Flour Industrialists Association Hasan Özmermer, Board Member of Özmermer Flour Derviş Toprak Mehmet Şerif Gültay Referee and Scientific Advisory Board Prof. Dr. Mustafa Bayram Prof. Gustavo Sosa Prof. Dr. Hazım Özkaya Asst. Prof. M. Kürşat Demir Asst. Prof. Halef Dizlek Asst. Prof. Harun Dıraman Asst. Prof. Mustafa Erbaş Publication Type Periodic (Monthly) Printing - Baskı İhlas Gazetecilik A.Ş. Merkez Mah. 29 Ekim Cad. No: 11 A 41 Yenibosna-Bahçelievler-İstanbul Tel: 0212 454 30 00 All copyrights belong to Parantez Publishing. © May not be used without permission. Responsibility of the ads belongs to the advertisers. ISSN 1309-6125 Copyright Page