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News Tip: Food Security Must Be a Key Component of Syria Peace Talks, Expert Says

‘Managing the wheat-to-bread chain is critical,’ says researcher Ghada Ahmed

Russia has announced its withdrawal from Syria and peace talks are taking place in Geneva, Switzerland. Food security must be addressed as part of the process, according to Ghada Ahmed, a researcher with the Duke University Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness.  • Quotes: “The effects of war and trade sanctions caused food prices to skyrocket, contributing to the conflict in the country and the horrifying loss of life due to starvation among many Syrian civilians,” says Ghada Ahmed, a researcher with the Duke University Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness, who has conducted research on food security in Syria, Egypt and Russia. "Agriculture was one of the driving forces of the Syrian economy and wheat is a critical food staple. Managing the wheat-to-bread chain is critical to the political, social and economic stability of the country.” “To reach a peaceful solution, negotiating parties must address food security. This needs to involve a full assessment of the wheat value chain: identifying priority intervention areas in the chain, addressing structural issues such as improving domestic production and creating more transparent channels for delivering food assistance in conflict zones.”  • Bio:Ahmed is a senior research analyst at Duke’s Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness. She has more than 18 years of experience working in the Middle East and the United States, including in international project management, economic growth and international development. Her research interests have included food and nutrition, green technologies, job creation and development strategies.http://www.cggc.duke.edu/whoweare/db_peopledetail.php?p=ghada_ahmed Access Ahmed’s full study, “The Wheat Value Chain and Food Insecurity in Syria” (first published in August 2013; updated in March 2016) at http://sites.duke.edu/minerva/files/2013/08/Syria-Wheat-Value-Chain-and-Food-Security_03.12.2016_FINAL.pdf • For additional comment, contact Ahmed at: ghada.ahmed@duke.edu