70% of Ukraine is a prime agricultural area. It is responsible for producing a significant portion of the world’s wheat, potatoes, corn, rye, barley, and sunflower oil. Crop shipments from Ukraine to the European Union, India, China, and other parts of Northern Africa and the Middle East are falling as Russian forces block Ukrainian ports. Meanwhile, the flow of grain exports from Russia, the world’s largest wheat producer, is being disrupted by harsh Western sanctions.
Today’s discussion focuses on the global impact of Russia’s war in …
Category: News
Food is Just as Vital as Oil to National Security
Be the Change You Wanted to See as a Young Girl
Madhulika Singh grew up in a traditional Indian community where girls choosing to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) subjects were as radical as them picking their own life partner.
Women are said to hold up half of the sky. Singh, who is now an agriculture specialist at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, believes girls should be able to hold their own and even contribute equally to STEM.
In her early adolescence, she observed her mother, a school principal, juggle her …
Another Food Crisis?
The consequences of the Ukraine crisis are likely to last for months, if not years. If the cuts in wheat exports from Russia and Ukraine are as severe as expected, global wheat supplies will be severely limited. If fertilizer exports are drastically reduced, global markets for food sources will become tighter. This will put vulnerable people around the world at risk of rising food costs and starvation.
The small …
New Endeavor to Fast-track the Power of Crop Diversity for Climate Resilience
A new project is expanding the use of biodiversity held in genebanks to develop new climate-smart crop varieties for millions of small-scale farmers worldwide.
The dependency of many farmers on seasonal rains for cultivation has been responsible for food shortages over the years. It is also obvious that implementation of alternative growth methods that do not rely on natural rains, such as irrigation, are expensive, and their uptake is slow. The development of climate-resilient crop varieties is a viable option.
If …
Russia Ukraine Conflict and the Global Food Security
Wheat supply chains, fertilizer exports, and other food system components will be disrupted as a result of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia. In combination with other factors, they have the potential to unleash a significant food security crisis.
The confrontation between Russia and Ukraine will severely affect global wheat supplies and food security. Agricultural research investments are essential for building resilient food systems and ensuring a stable food supply in the coming future.
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