Russia’s withdrawal from grain deal highlights need to rethink food distribution

By Edoardo Giribaldi

The United Nations and Oxfam have commented on Russia’s decision to withdraw from the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allowed the export of grain from Ukraine to countries situated in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

"A lifeline for global food security"

UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the deal as “a lifeline for global food security and a beacon of hope in a troubled world.”

Guterres also underlined the importance of these agreements “at a time when the production and availability of food is being disrupted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more,” claiming how they contributed to reduce food prices by over 23 per cent since March last year.”

Th UN Secretary-General concluded by ensuring his focus on the implementation of policies aimed at advancing global food security and global food stability, “taking into account the rise in human suffering that will inevitably result from today’s decision.”

"Rethink how to feed the world"

Hanna Saarinen, Oxfam food expert, commented on Russia’s decision noting how “while this grain deal has played a part in calming skyrocketing food prices, it is not the cure-all for world hunger.”

Saarinen presented the cases of Somalia and South Sudan, two countries that, despite their tragic conditions in terms of hunger crisis, received “less than 3 percent of grain from this deal.” Specifically, “Somalia received a mere 0.2 percent.”

That is why, according to Oxfam food expert, “now that this deal is off the table, it is even more urgent to rethink how to feed the world.”

One of the solutions would be to stop the “unhealthy reliance” on “one of the world’s few breadbaskets,” and start diversifying grain production, "investing in small-scale farmers in poorer countries to increase food production where needed.”