War in Ukraine has affected food security of developing countries – US Intelligence
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to profound disruptions in global food supplies, with prices skyrocketing and growing threats to food security in developing countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
Source: European Pravda, citing an unclassified US intelligence report made public by the Congress on 30 August
Details: The document states that the direct and indirect aftermath of the war "were major drivers of one of the most disruptive periods in decades for global food security", largely because Ukraine and Russia were among the world's largest pre-war exporters of grain and other agricultural products.
The US intelligence believes that future food prices will likely depend partially on what happens to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Russia halted in July.
Furthermore, the report notes that global food prices will be affected by the amount of land Ukraine manages to cultivate during the war, as well as the cost and availability of fertilisers.
Quote from US intelligence: "The combination of high domestic food prices and historic levels of sovereign debt in many countries – largely caused by spending and recessionary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – has weakened countries’ capacity to respond to heightened food insecurity risks
These factors probably will undermine the capacity of many poor countries to provide sufficient and affordable food to their population through the end of the year."
Background: Earlier, the US was reportedly working with Romania and Moldova to increase Ukraine's grain exports via the Danube River, exploring alternative routes after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Türkiye is trying to persuade Russia to rejoin the deal, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to arrive in Russia soon to discuss the breach of the agreement.
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