The past two years of the COVID-19 pandemichave presented several
concerns on global food security, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict
further adds a significant impact on the world's food supply. Qu Dongyu,
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO), presented the current scenario and gave policy
recommendations in an opinion article.

Qu discussed that Russia and Ukraine both play significant roles in
global food production and supply. Russia is the largest exporter
ofwheatworldwide, while Ukraine is the fifth largest. Putting their
combined outputs, the two countries provide 19% of the global barley
supply, 14% of wheat, and 4% of maite, which comprise over one-third of
global cereal exports. Russia is also the lead producer of fertilizer
globally.

�??The conflict's intensity and duration remain uncertain. The likely
disruptions to agricultural activities of these two major exporters of
staple commodities could seriously escalate food insecurity globally,
when international food and input prices are already high and volatile,�?�
Qu stressed.

Policy recommendations were also presented in the article, which include:

* Keep global food and fertilizer trade open.
* Find new and more diverse food suppliers.
* Support vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people.
* Avoid ad hoc policy reactions.
* Strengthen market transparency and dialogue.

FAO - News Article: New Scenarios on Global Food Security based on
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
[www.fao.org]