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How Russia-Ukraine war is increasing climate-linked food scarcity

How Russia-Ukraine war is increasing climate-linked food scarcity

protesters clash riot police Egypt

Since February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, global wheat prices have risen dramatically. Both nations 30% of the world’s wheat production.

Many low-income countries, who are net food importers, are now facing a year of hunger. Already existing drops in food production due to climate change are being exacerbated by the disruption of war. Climate change has already had a significant impact on global average agricultural production. At least one-fifth.

Food insecurity can often lead to widespread social unrest. This was evident in the Arab Spring protests of 2011, which took place after major food price increases.

The Middle East and North Africa will be the hardest hit in the near term, as they are the most vulnerable. major importersa large proportion of Ukrainian wheat and face major food security concerns. Countries dependent on specific commodities and which can’t switch to alternative food sources are also at risk.

Climate change is a critical issue as many countries face hunger and worsening security of their food. Climate change is the greatest threat multiplier, causing all existing crises to worsen.

protesters clash riot police Egypt

During the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, anti-government protestors clashed with riot officers in Egypt.
Ben Curtis/AP

What effect is war having?

The world produces enough food for everyone. Hunger persists because of the Important factorsDistribution and accessibility

You can also add war and climate changes to this list. The current price spikes in wheat are caused by market speculation and war pressures.

The world’s largest wheat importer is Egypt, which buys in over half of its calories. It is also the largest importer of wheat in the world. Rice exports.

This is a dangerous combination. Much of Egypt’s population lives in poverty, with a high reliance on wheat. Civil unrest began when bread prices rose. Nearly 40%In 2007-08, the oil price rises and droughts in oil-producing nations were major factors.

Egypt man carrying flatbread

Egypt’s poor rely on imported wheat to make flatbread and other staples.
Amr Nabil/AP

The effects of climate change, conflict, and food security will continue to increase

The world’s current 1.2℃ of warming has already slashed the world’s average agricultural production by Minimum 21%.

The effects of wealth countries on the world have not been significant. The rest of the world has. In Africa, Central, and South AmericaFloods and droughts that have caused crop damage and food insecurity have led to an increase in food insecurity and malnutrition.

The world’s poor live where land is cheapest and most Extreme climatic conditions can make you vulnerable. Many people have limited or no access to healthcare, education, transport, meaningful work, food, and water. Each of these factors adds to the underlying disadvantage, which can lead to conflict and increase vulnerability. Climate change can make all these factors worse.

A war between two countries will have a direct impact on global food, fuel, fertiliser and price supplies in 2022. As the world heats and our agricultural systems start to fail in some regions, it is certain that war, climate change, and food insecurity will cause more suffering.

Rich countries are not immune

Australia, a rich country, is learning that food insecurity may affect everyone. The financial vulnerability of people has increased due to the pandemic years. Food insecurityThere are now more Australians than ever before.

The pandemic follows climate-linked weather events Food supply disruptionDue to unprecedented bushfires or floods. Due to the record-breaking rains, it is now more difficult to sell recent bumper grain crops at an affordable price. Crops are at risk from water damageExport infrastructure as well as those that were damaged by the prolonged drought cycle.

Australia exports enough food to feed 70 million people. This can give the illusion of security. Our position as the most aridly populated continent in a steadily increasing world has actually led to Drops of up to 35%Since 2000, farm profitability has been increasing.

What can we do?

Many people in Ukraine and other conflict zones are living in fear of the next meal.

True hunger is something that can be experienced by anyone who has lived in a country with a lot of food for many decades. One author learned this from having lived through the war in Yugoslavia.

To be resilient, you need to know about food: food production and preservation skills, variety of foods. Edible weedsand foraging options, as well as how supply chains work and the consequences that trading food in the face f hunger.

To build resilience against these increasing and overlapping threats, it is important to get out of our current dependence upon wheat, corn, and rice. Fully 40%Our calories. Of the world’s thousands of plant species, we farm around 170 on a commercial basis. About a dozen of these species supply the majority of our needs.

Wheat corn and rice piles

The human body consumes a surprising amount of calories from wheat, rice, and corn.
Shutterstock

As food security threats increase, we will need to ask why basic foodstuffs have become commodities of profit. The model in which food is standardized is a radical but popular approach. Traded equitablyTo address the need. Access to food is essential. Human right.

We can adapt to climate change by implementing more equitable and resilient food systems. This will help us to lessen conflict and reduce carbon emissions. Also, improving the production of food can help us tackle climate change. Climate change and biodiversity losses.

We are encouraged by the growing interest in urban food production and efforts to reimagine distribution, as well as regenerative farming and technological innovations on farms. These changes, taken together, are a great deal. Can reduce supply chains and increase food diversity..

Why is this important? Producing food closer home reduces the risk associated with food insecurity caused by climate change, war, or other disruptions.

As more people move to cities, we will need to embrace urban food production and support smallholders and family farms who still produce food. More than halfEvery calorie that is consumed by humans.

We have a real opportunity – and need – to rethink how we produce and distribute the food we rely on. We still have the chance to stop some of the suffering that is heading our way.

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