Food price inflation was already a problem. Could the conflict make things even worse?

Ukraine and Russia are both major food exporters. Tamasin Ford looks at how the war in Ukraine is affecting global prices.

Food price inflation was already a major problem in many parts of the world, and there are fears that the conflict will make matters even worse.

David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, says millions of people in Ukraine will now be at risk of food insecurity as a result of the conflict, and fears knock-on effects for countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia, which are major importers of grains from Ukraine.

Ivanna Dorichenko, managing director of consultancy firm TRADAIDE and an expert in international arbitration, says the situation in Ukraine is devastating, and that much of the country’s agricultural infrastructure has been destroyed by the Russian invasion.

Andrey Sizov, head of research firm SovEcon, is an expert on agriculture in the Black Sea region. He says the war in Ukraine is already paralysing exports , with shipping companies refusing to send vessels into areas potentially disrupted by the conflict

Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, says the conflict will have an impact on African countries which buy grains from Ukraine, many of which were already struggling with rising food prices.

(Photo: A sign reading 'Danger Mines' in a wheat field in Nizhyn, Ukraine; Credit: Getty Images)