The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has warned that the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine might spark a worldwide food catastrophe that would disproportionately affect developing nations.
According to IANS, citing Xinhua news agency, during a press conference in Stockholm following a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson where he discussed the security situation in Europe, pandemic recovery, and the green transition, he stated that the Russia-Ukraine conflict is causing suffering and devastation and “must end now.”
He also demanded rapid action to handle the possibility of a food crisis as a result of the conflict, which would disproportionately affect poor nations.
Guterres warned that the situation is generating a “three-dimensional global food, energy, and finance crisis” that is wreaking havoc on “the most vulnerable populations, countries, and economy.”
A “perfect storm” is threatening the economy of many emerging countries, he added.
According to Guterres, the food crisis will not be resolved until Russia’s manure and food production, as well as Ukraine’s food production, are able to re-enter global markets.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Russia and Ukraine are the world’s largest and fifth-largest wheat exporters, respectively (FAO). They contribute 19% of the world’s barley, 14% of wheat, and 4% of maize, accounting for more than one-third of total cereal exports. Furthermore, Russia is the world’s leading producer of fertilizers, accounting for 13% of global output.
Global fertilizer prices have risen as a result of US sanctions restricting Russian fertilizer shipments.