Russia and Ukraine are agricultural powerhouses. But the war and sanctions against Moscow have crippled their ability to feed the world.Who's most at risk? Developing countries that rely on those imports. What will the impact be? The disruptions could double the number of people that went hungry due to the pandemic. On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer speaks to Ertharin Cousin, who knows a thing or two about food security since she used the run the UN World Food Programme.
Vladimir Putin’s decision to wage war has already brought destruction to the places and people of Ukraine, but it could also put millions of people at risk far from cities like Kyiv, Kharkov, and Mariupol. That’s because the war is making key food staples around the world more scarce and pricier, raising the prospect of food shortages and social unrest.
“Countries as far afield as Nigeria, Yemen, and Bangladesh are already feeling the effects of reduced grain exports,” says Peter Ceretti, a senior analyst with Eurasia Group. “But the knock-on effects could be much worse: soaring fertilizer prices, export bans, and a failed planting season in Ukraine could all mean that millions around the world go hungry.”