Ongoing wars are employing “food warfare” tactics, targeting agricultural infrastructure and supply chains to inflict long-term food insecurity. The Russia-Ukraine conflict highlights this strategy, as both nations are major global exporters of essential grains and oils.
Disruptions to ports and shipping lanes have significantly impacted global supply chains, with Ukraine’s agricultural exports being particularly affected. This weaponization of food, coupled with climate challenges such as El Niño, is critically testing the global food system and threatening millions with acute hunger. The interconnectedness of the global food system makes it vulnerable to such ruptures, increasing the dependence of food-insecure countries on imports.
Source: Down To Earth