The “unprecedented” food crisis is approaching

This is a warning issued by the United Nations World Food Program.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine The escalation causes the spring crop in Ukraine to be interrupted and Russia to limit exports. No country has been able to offset the wheat exports of these two countries, which account for a third of global wheat supply.

This makes the search food supply threatens to become a major problem in the world within the next year.

Two years ago, World Food Program (WFP) Director David Beasley warned that about 270 million people worldwide are on the brink of starvation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the United Nations warns, due to the influence of Russia’s special military campaign in Ukraine, some countries are facing the risk of serious food shortages such as Haiti and Yemen.

Russia and Ukraine are the top grain producers, accounting for about 30% of the world’s wheat, 32% of barley, and 75% of the world’s sunflower oil production. The countries of North Africa and the Middle East depend most on grain supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Western countries also face logistical and logistical difficulties due to sanctions imposed on Russia.

Russia and Ukraine provide one-third of the global wheat supply. (Image: Getty)

Logistics difficulties on the border with Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland make Ukraine can only export to Europe 600,000 tons of grain / month, instead of 5 million tons / month as before.

From February 15 to June 30, Russia plans to sell abroad up to 11 million tons of grain, including 8 million tons of wheat. Western sanctions have had little effect on the commodity, but nearly 90% of grain is shipped to foreign markets via the port of Novorossiysk, and most of the Black Sea shipping lanes are closed.

According to estimates by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine will decrease by 7 million tons, or 12% compared to the previous season.

Concerns about the risk of supply shortages pushed grain prices in mid-March to their highest levels since 2008.

Before the conflict, Ukraine received 75% of its diesel oil from Russia, the rest was supplied by sea, but maritime routes were closed.

A shortage of diesel oil needed for agricultural machinery makes it difficult for the country to start the spring planting season.

Ukraine’s Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi on April 4 confirmed this situation, and warned that continued conflict has the risk of leading to price escalation around the world.

Droughts in Canada and the US have pushed up food prices in 2021. The tense geopolitical situation has increased demand for cereals.

The international community is concerned that Russia will not be able to deliver grain shipments to customers, leading to an increase in food prices.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) points out that fully compensating Ukraine’s absence in the grain market with supplies from other countries is an impossible task.

In any case, the cost of production will increase, and this will cause a new price increase.

According to industry expert Leonid Khazanov, the West should not impose sanctions on Russia because Africa and Southeast Asia will face hunger and instability due to sharp increase in food prices.

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