Russia-Ukraine Armed Conflict and Global Food Security

Abstract

Recent studies reveal that the rest of the world is suffering greatly from conflict induced food shortages. Most affected are countries of Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) that depend significantly on food imports. Commodities like wheat, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, maize, rapeseed, and fertilizer are experiencing a sharp increase in inflation. This study examined the impact of military conflict between Russia and Ukraine on global food security. Special focus is on how the crisis has affected food production and distribution, as well as how the global food scarcity was caused by the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and Ukraine. The study relied on realism theory as framework of analysis. Among other recommendations made, countries should invest more in food security measures in order to solve the more general problem of global food scarcity. This entails encouraging agricultural innovation and research, enhancing the infrastructure for the delivery and storage of food, and putting sustainable farming methods into practice. Improving food security on a global scale can act as a buffer against disturbances brought on by trade tensions and regional conflicts.