Therefore, he encouraged donors, especially Gulf countries and billionaires, to give a share of their profits to solve the fertilizer supply problem, and prevent widespread food shortages next year.

– Otherwise, there will be chaos around the world, Beasley said in an interview with the AP on Friday.

The WFP chairman pointed out that when he took over nearly six years ago, 80 million people in the world were at risk of hunger and food shortages. Climate problems have risen to 135 million, and with the coronavirus pandemic the number has doubled to 276 million in two years.

Tracing an unprecedented crisis

That was before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February caused a widespread food, fertilizer and energy crisis, which pushed the figure to 345 million. Beasley believes the world community must act immediately.

– 50 million people in 45 countries are at risk of starvation. If we don’t help these people now, we will experience starvation, starvation and destabilization of countries like we have never seen before. Worse than the financial crises of 2007 and 2008 and the Arab Spring in 2011. We must act now, is the clear message from the head of the WFP.

At the same time, Beasley worries that fears of a recession in the world economy and a tense security situation are making countries less likely to provide humanitarian aid.

50 percent of food can be wasted

According to the WFP chair, the world currently produces enough food for 7.7 billion people, but 50 percent of that food comes from farmers who use fertilizers.

– China, the world’s leading fertilizer producer, has banned exports, while Russia, number two, is struggling to bring it to world markets as a result of sanctions and the war in Ukraine. This is the perfect storm on top of the other perfect storms, he said.

Beasley points out that agriculture in Asia and Africa lacks fertilizer and is therefore in critical condition.

He this week met and spoke with world leaders in connection with the United Nations high-level week in New York. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that conflict and humanitarian crises were spreading, and that the funding gap for UN humanitarian efforts was $32 billion – the largest gap ever.