The Ukraine-Russia war has catalysed and highlighted significant instability in global wheat supply, raising prices and threatening food and nutrition security, particularly for vulnerable populations. In addition, real-time climate change effects are increasing in frequency and magnitude. These act as amplifiers of the current food security crisis, and also add to future risks for the food system. In addition, the effects of Covid-19 have further disrupted supply chains and widened existing inequities, which has the potential for many knock-on effects.

Dr Alison Bentley, Director Global Wheat Program at International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and a CEAT Fellow, will frame these issues in the wheat crop system and propose near- to long-term practical interventions to enable stability in the short-term and build resilience in the long term. These measures have implications for other cereal crops, as well as other food supply chains.

Facilitated by award-winning journalist Alex Sloan AM, the session will also involve an expert panel discussion featuring:

• Prof Mark Howden, Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions (ICEDS), ANU
• Prof Sharon Friel, Director of the Menzies Centre for Health Governance at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), ANU
• Dr Eric Huttner, Research Program Manager for Crops at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

COVID protocols

• Please do not attend this event if you feel unwell, are awaiting the results of a test, or are required to self-isolate/quarantine. The University's COVID Safety advice can be accessed here.
• Mask usage is still mandatory when indoors at the ANU , except when eating or drinking.
• Please maintain good social hygiene by staying 1.5m apart from others and coughing/sneezing into elbows, and attendees are encouraged to use hand sanitiser provided.