European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she is working with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to address the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war “with an event on food security and solutions in Europe and in the region”, the World Economic Forum said on its official website.
“The signs of a growing food crisis are obvious. We have to act urgently. But there are also solutions, today and on the horizon,” Von der Leyen addressed the annual Davos think-fest on Tuesday 24/5/2022.
“It is time to replace old chains with new bonds. Let’s overcome this huge challenge in cooperation; in the Davos spirit,” she added.
Meanwhile, Von der Leyen noted that the European Commission is supporting Africa to become less dependent on food imports.
“Only 50 years ago, Africa produced all the food it needed. For centuries, countries like Egypt were the granaries of the world. Then climate change made water scarce, and the desert swallowed hundreds of kilometers of fertile land, year after year,” she said.
An initiative to boost Africa’s own production capacity will be critical to strengthen the continent’s resilience, she added.
Source: State Information Service Egypt