Call for exempting food trade from Russia sanctions as Dhaka hosts Asia-Pacific food conference (Dhaka Tribune)

Dhaka Tribune published an article stating that Russia is the world’s top wheat exporter, accounting for 20 percent of the global supply while Ukraine is the fifth. Senior research fellows Joseph Glauber and David Laborde said, said, “Many importing countries depend even more on these products (cereal and oilseeds) from Ukraine and Russia. North Africa and the Middle East import over 50% of their cereal needs and a large share of wheat and barley from Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine is an important supplier of maize for the European Union and China, as well as several North African markets including Egypt and Libya.” The IFPRI fellows warned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could push up already-high food price inflation and have serious consequences for low-income net-food importing countries, many of which have seen an increase in malnourishment rates over the past few years in the face of pandemic disruptions.