“In a year and a half it will get worse.” Macron predicted a food crisis for the world

French President Emmanuel Macron believes the world is on the verge of an “unprecedented” food crisis, because “Russia and Ukraine are the largest agricultural producers”. Maghreb, African and Middle Eastern countries will experience this most severely.

“We are now entering an unprecedented food crisis,” the French President said at a press conference in Brussels after the meeting of the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries. “The food situation will become more difficult in the next year and a half,” Macron said.

Earlier in France Bleu’s publication, the politician did not ignore the possibility of food checks in France due to rising food prices. “I want to create [программу] “Food controls to help poor families and the middle class cope with this new crisis,” Macron said.

The French leader stressed that Paris will seek a “coordinated response” by Europe to this situation.

UN warnings

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also warned that the world is in danger of starvation due to the events in Ukraine and rising food, fertilizer and energy prices.

“The Ukrainian population is living hell on earth and the consequences are being felt around the world. Rising food, energy and fertilizer prices threaten to lead to global hunger, Guterres told reporters outside UN headquarters in New York.

According to Guterres, events in Ukraine were superimposed on the economic shock caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “At all costs – even the wisest calculation – it is time to stop hostilities and give peace a chance,” said a statement issued by the secretary-general. Said. Online UN.

sowing failure

President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking to the Italian Parliament on March 22 via video link, reportedIt is clear that one of the consequences of what is happening in Ukraine may be food shortages, as there will not be a cultivation campaign in the country, at least not on the same scale.

In particular, we are talking about the interruption of the supply of corn, wheat and vegetable oil. “And prices are already rising, so how many tens of millions of people will need help across your shores,” he stressed.

According to Zelensky, a “terrible famine” is approaching.

Major exporters

Russia leader It ranks second in terms of wheat export (17% of world exports) and sunflower supply. A significant amount of production (eg 40% of wheat exports) is sent to Africa and the Middle East.

Ukraine ranks fifth in wheat exports (10% of the global market). In addition, the country meets 15% of the world’s corn export.

“We are very concerned that the protracted conflict in Ukraine is limiting the world’s supply of essential crops such as wheat, corn and sunflower oil, causing food prices to skyrocket and famine. This could jeopardize global food security and increase geopolitical tensions, Gilbert Hungbo, head of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, quoted by The Guardian.

He said that one in ten people on the planet has food shortages and that the coronavirus pandemic has made the situation worse, disrupting markets and transport networks, and increasing the number of poor people.