Canadian Foodgrains Bank Working To Ensure Existing Programs Continue

Apr 27, 2020

COVID-19 is having a sharp impact on many households around the world in terms of the food supply.

Jim Cornelius is the executive director with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB).

"Food supply chains still are functioning largely but they're starting to be disrupted to the extent that as they get more disrupted you'll start to see prices going up, we're seeing that in some countries, which then of course prices poor people out of the market very quickly," he commented.

Cornelius says Canadians are fortunate to have a program like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

"People are in quite a panic mode in many countries and these countries are often not well positioned to quickly roll out a safety net program like we have in Canada now with the CERB. That's really what's needed, is to get cash into people's hands so they can have food."

He says the immediate priority is to ensure that the CFGB existing programs can continue, noting most partners have been able to adapt their programs.

Cornelius adds many Canadians are facing their own challenges, and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is aware of that. He's hopeful that many of the growing projects will still get a crop in this year.

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