The Black Sea Grain Deal Hangs in the Balance Amid Global Food Crisis

The United Nations-brokered deal that allowed Ukraine to resume grain shipments through the Black Sea after Russia’s invasion a year ago hangs in the balance. Millions of tonnes of Ukrainian produce have been shipped under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which last July opened a safe corridor to the country’s southern ports. The deal is critical for the response to the food crisis, says World Food Programme (WFP) economist Friederike Greb.

The Weaponization of Hunger

The weaponization of hunger has been used by Russia to impose costs on people around the world, said Senator Chris Coons, a close ally of President Joe Biden, during an interview. The blockade of Black Sea ports raised prices for hungry people in dozens of countries around the world, Coons said.

The Impact of the Black Sea Grain Deal

The U.N., Turkey, and Ukraine forged the Black Sea grain deal, which has reduced some of the overwhelming strain on global food prices, but not enough yet, according to Coons. In peacetime, Ukraine’s food exports were enough to feed 400 million people, with its shipments of grains and oilseeds through the Black Sea falling to zero last March from 5.7 million metric tons in February.

Rescuing Ukrainian Farmers

The EU established overland “solidarity lanes” to assist in bringing food exports out of Eastern Europe in order to save Ukrainian farmers and prevent hunger. The agreement to permit safe passage for Ukrainian food supplies via the Black Sea was mediated by the U.N. and Turkey in July. Some 21.5 million tons of Ukrainian produce have been transported under the initiative, enabling the World Food Programme to deliver valuable aid to countries like Ethiopia and Afghanistan.

Complaints and Accusations

Ukraine complains that Russia is using food as a “weapon” by deliberately holding up inspections for ships heading to and from its Black Sea ports. Russia claims that most Ukrainian cargoes have headed to Europe and other rich countries and not to Africa and Asia, which bear the brunt of the global food crisis. Both sides have many complaints as talks resume, and the fate of the grain deal hangs in the balance.

Insight

The weaponization of hunger has dire consequences for the global food crisis, with millions of people already facing food insecurity and the worst yet to come. The Black Sea Grain Deal is a critical component in combating this crisis and must be maintained to provide vital aid to those most in need.

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