Europe Braces for Food Crises Through Simulation Exercises

In 2024, challenges like El Niño and La Niña disrupt soy production in Latin America, while grain farmers in Ukraine and Russia grapple with war impacts.

Europe faces a halt in Indonesia’s palm oil exports and a surge in China’s crop demand as the Mediterranean grows drier.

A video poses a critical question about inevitable food shortages in Europe, capturing a silent audience’s attention.

Yet, this scenario hasn’t unfolded.

On February 1st and 2nd, 60 people from various sectors, such as government, industry, civil society, academia, agriculture, and the media, came together in Brussels, Belgium.

They had intense discussions with one goal: to get ready for and tackle future food crises in Europe.

This event, the first “Food Alert” workshop, marked a significant step. Participants played roles in a ‘Task Force’, focusing on creating advice for top EU leaders to solve an emerging food crisis.

They divided into three groups, each tackling a different part of the problem: how to respond to crises, ensure food production, and manage trade and finance.

Europe, deemed highly food-secure in 2022, faces climate-induced farmer challenges, with losses surpassing €50 billion ($54.3 billion) in 2022.

The cost of fertilizers and energy, crucial for agriculture, has spiked post-Ukraine invasion.

The 2025 simulation paints a dire picture: supermarkets looted, cities in chaos, and Germany running low on fish and meat, pushing livestock farmers towards bankruptcy.

Accusations fly against commodity traders, and small farms collapse, fueling societal unrest and xenophobia.

The 2025 simulation paints a dire picture

Taking on various roles, participants proposed solutions over discussions, tackling Europe’s dependency on imported crops like soy, vital for its meat and dairy sectors.

Suggestions included reducing livestock subsidies. The workshop concluded with policy proposals favoring a shift towards plant-based diets and enhancing food reserve management.

The event highlighted the need for Europe to prepare for food crises, with topics for future simulations ranging from bioterrorism to zoonotic diseases.

Chris Hegadorn, a retired diplomat and Foodalert workshop co-organizer, emphasized the urgency of readiness for future crises, indicating a need for comprehensive action at all levels to mitigate the fast-approaching challenges.