Review

The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis

Volume: 2 Number: 2 November 3, 2022
  • Demetris Psaltopoulos *
TR EN

The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis

Abstract

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a humanitarian crisis, while simultaneously disrupting global agricultural markets and energy systems. Developing countries, especially those highly dependent on imported grains and fertilizers from Ukraine and Russia are expected to be mostly affected. The crisis is expected to have serious consequences for European food supply and further exacerbate an already challenging situation for European farmers. Limiting the conflict’s impacts on global agri-food systems requires effective national policies and global collaboration. Policy initiatives should trigger a short-term response through keeping trade open and supporting consumers (especially the vulnerable) and farmers. But they should also keep a medium- and longer-term outlook towards improving the resilience of food systems to future shocks; systems that are also inclusive and deliver food and guarantee nutrition security. This short paper aims to highlight the likely impacts of the current food crisis and propose policy options for food security at the country level. Both short- and medium-to-long-term policy actions should be implemented at the country level to further improve food security. Policy actions should deal with the risks emanating by the crisis, and at the same time, align with the strategic aim to promote a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agri-food sector. Targeted short-term actions should contribute to facilitating free trade and to supporting consumers and vulnerable households and farmers. Trade restrictions on agri-food exports must be avoided and assistance must be provided to farmers so that they can cope with higher costs. Targeted measures should aim at reducing consumer exposure to the crisis and providing relief to most vulnerable groups, including refugees. Longer-term actions should be structural and transformative, aiming at a more productive, resource-efficient, diverse, and nutritious food system. Public spending must be better targeted, coupled by private funding mobilization. Investments on innovation and R&D must be pursued. International and domestic supplier networks should be diversified. Productive partnerships between local agricultural producers and buyers downstream the agri-food value chain should be supported. The sustainable intensification of high potential crop land through precision agriculture technologies and climate smart agricultural practices should be incentivized. Integrated agricultural knowledge and innovation systems that deliver advisory support services to producers for sustainable productivity growth and resilience should be developed. Finally, local consumption patterns should shift towards healthier and more sustainable diets.

Keywords

References

  1. EC, 2022a. Brussels, 23.3.2022 COM(2022) 133 final. Safeguarding food security and reinforcing the resilience of food systems. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/fo od-farming-fisheries/key_policies/documents/safeguardin g-foodsecurity-reinforcing-resilience-food- systems.pdf.
  2. EC, 2022b. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:520 22XC0324(10)&from=EN.
  3. FAO, 2022. The importance of Ukraine and the Russian Federation for global agricultural markets and the risks associated with the current conflict. Information Note. Rome: FAO.
  4. OECD, 2022. Economic and social impacts and policy implications of the war in Ukraine. OECD Economic Outlook, Interim Report. Paris: OECD.
  5. PANGESTU, M.E., 2022. Four paths to respond to crisis, the food price https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/four- paths-respond-food-price-crisis.
  6. UK Parliament, 2022. The EU response to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/researc h-briefings/cbp-9503/.
  7. UNCTAD, 2022. The impact on trade and development of the war in Ukraine. UNCTAD Rapid Assessment, 16 March 2022.
  8. UNHRC, 2022. Ukraine Situation Flash Update #6, 30 March 2022. https://reporting.unhcr.org/document/2030.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Agricultural Trade , Agricultural Economics (Other)

Journal Section

Review

Authors

Demetris Psaltopoulos * This is me
0000-0002-4129-010X
Greece

Publication Date

November 3, 2022

Submission Date

October 11, 2022

Acceptance Date

October 23, 2022

Published in Issue

Year 2022 Volume: 2 Number: 2

APA
Psaltopoulos, D. (2022). The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE), 2(2), 13-23. https://doi.org//ejae.1461104
AMA
1.Psaltopoulos D. The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE). 2022;2(2):13-23. doi:/ejae.1461104
Chicago
Psaltopoulos, Demetris. 2022. “The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis”. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE) 2 (2): 13-23. https://doi.org//ejae.1461104.
EndNote
Psaltopoulos D (November 1, 2022) The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE) 2 2 13–23.
IEEE
[1]D. Psaltopoulos, “The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis”, Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE), vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 13–23, Nov. 2022, doi: /ejae.1461104.
ISNAD
Psaltopoulos, Demetris. “The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis”. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE) 2/2 (November 1, 2022): 13-23. https://doi.org//ejae.1461104.
JAMA
1.Psaltopoulos D. The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE). 2022;2:13–23.
MLA
Psaltopoulos, Demetris. “The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis”. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE), vol. 2, no. 2, Nov. 2022, pp. 13-23, doi:/ejae.1461104.
Vancouver
1.Demetris Psaltopoulos. The Ukraine War and Food Security Crisis. Eurasian Journal Of Agricultural Economics (EJAE). 2022 Nov. 1;2(2):13-2. doi:/ejae.1461104