2022 saw a rapid increase in food prices and shortages of food supplies around the world. The compounding crises in distinct parts of the world were caused by compounding geopolitical and economic crisis. The crises follow food security and economic crises during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as other observers of the food commodities markets, warned of a collapse in food supply and price increases.
Much of the concern is related to supply shortages of key commodity crops, such as wheat, corn, and oil seeds, which could cause price increases.
The invasion also led to fuel and associated fertilizer price increases, causing further food shortfalls and price increases.
Even before the invasion, food prices were already at record highs. As of February 2022, year-over-year food prices were up 20%, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The war further increased year-over-year prices another 40% in March.
The compounding issues, including COVID-19, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and climate-related crop failures, are expected to reverse global trends in reducing hunger and malnutrition.
Some regions, such as East
Even Global North countries that usually have secure food supplies, such as the UK and US, are beginning to experience the direct impacts of cost inflation due to food insecurity. Some analysts described the price increases as the worst since the 2007–2008 world food price crisis.
Though initial international responses to the food crisis suggested that some suppliers or harvests may alleviate to global shortages and price increases (e.g. a proposed influx of grain from India), as of June 2022 no international efforts have been effective at alleviating prices.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted food supply chains around the world, disrupting distribution channels at the consumption and distribution stages of the food industry.
A rise in fuel and transport prices further increased the complexity of distribution as food competed with other goods.
At the same time, significant floods and heatwaves in 2021 destroyed key crops in the Americas and Europe.
The price rises affected parts of Asia, Africa and Latin
The World Bank announced a new $12 billion fund to address the food crises.
In May, the UN called for Russia to facilitate the reopening of Ukrainian grain ports to mitigate the global food crises.
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