“The U.N. humanitarian chief warned Friday that millions of people are at risk of hunger and death as a consequence of Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal,” Voice of America reports.
“The U.S.-based International Food Policy Research Institute said in a paper released Thursday that global production of wheat and feed grains, including corn, should be sufficient to meet global demand this year, even without Ukrainian products.
“But with Black Sea routes closed to its exports, Ukraine will have to find alternatives, which will be expensive. And without lower-cost options, Ukrainian wheat and corn production would likely drop next year. Add to that the damage to its export infrastructure, and IFPRI experts say that would significantly affect short-term global grain availability and further disrupt Ukraine’s longer-term ability to grow and export grain.”