A surreal illustration representing the global food crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, showing divided wheat fields and a stormy sky.

Food Fight: How the Russia-Ukraine Conflict Impacts Global Agriculture and What We Can Do About It

Lena Kashyap in Business & Economy August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine on worldwide food security, examining risk factors and potential solutions for a more stable future."

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world's major agricultural powerhouses, has cast a long shadow over the global food system. Beyond the immediate devastation and human suffering, the war has triggered a cascade of challenges, threatening food security for millions worldwide. We're seeing disruptions in supply chains, soaring prices, and increased market volatility, all combining to create a perfect storm in the agricultural sector.

For many people, food security is not just a concern, it's a daily struggle. In 2022, approximately 258 million individuals across 58 countries faced acute food insecurity. This is a marked increase from the 193 million in 2021, a record high that underscores the escalating crisis. Geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather events, and economic shocks are increasingly interwoven, exacerbating the vulnerabilities within our global food systems.

This situation demands a closer look at how geopolitical events affect something as fundamental as the food on our tables. In this article, we’ll break down the key findings of new research, explore the immediate impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and discuss possible paths toward stabilizing global food markets.

How the Russia-Ukraine Conflict Upended Global Food Markets

A surreal illustration representing the global food crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, showing divided wheat fields and a stormy sky.

Russia and Ukraine play critical roles in the global production and export of essential food, energy, and chemical resources. Together, they contribute significantly to grain production; in the 2021/22 season, their combined wheat harvest reached 108.17 million tons, accounting for 13.89% of global output. They are also key players in the maize and barley markets, further solidifying their importance in worldwide food supply.

The conflict has exposed vulnerabilities in global agricultural systems, triggering significant consequences for the food market. Here's what you need to know:

Supply Chain Disruptions: The war has intensified existing strains on the global food supply chain, making it harder to get food from farms to consumers efficiently.
Energy and Fertilizer Markets: Adverse effects on energy and fertilizer markets are being transmitted to the food market, leading to more acute food insecurity. Rising energy costs increase the price of production, while fertilizer shortages reduce crop yields.
Trade Protectionism: Since the conflict began, many countries have imposed export restrictions, resulting in increased tension between food supply and demand and fueling concerns about potential food shortages.

These factors have intensified global capital speculation in the food market, leading to dramatic fluctuations in international food prices and exacerbating risks. The futures and spot markets, which should ideally complement each other, are now experiencing increased instability, with futures prices not always accurately reflecting conditions in the spot market.

What Actions Can Be Taken?

Addressing the global food crisis requires a multifaceted approach involving international cooperation, policy adjustments, and market stabilization. It's crucial for relevant international organizations, such as the WTO, FAO, and WFP, to collaborate in maintaining the smooth operation of the international food market, advocating for trade liberalization, and ensuring the unhindered flow of food resources. Countries worldwide should enhance food governance, avoid trade protectionism, and work towards practical solutions to mitigate food price volatility. Ultimately, securing global food security demands a concerted effort to build a fair, open, and efficient global food supply system, ensuring access to affordable and nutritious food for everyone.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.11.004,

Title: The Impact Of The Russia-Ukraine Conflict On The Extreme Risk Spillovers Between Agricultural Futures And Spots

Subject: q-fin.st econ.em

Authors: Wei-Xing Zhou, Yun-Shi Dai, Kiet Tuan Duong, Peng-Fei Dai

Published: 24-10-2023

Everything You Need To Know

How have supply chains been affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and what are the implications for getting food to consumers?

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has intensified existing strains on the global food supply chain, disrupting the efficient movement of food from farms to consumers. This disruption is due to logistical challenges, increased transportation costs, and trade barriers, all of which contribute to delays and shortages. The result is higher food prices and reduced availability, particularly impacting vulnerable populations who rely on affordable food sources. Addressing these disruptions requires improving infrastructure, diversifying supply routes, and reducing trade barriers to ensure a more resilient food supply chain.

In what ways has the conflict influenced energy and fertilizer markets, and how do these markets impact food security?

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has significantly impacted energy and fertilizer markets, which in turn affects food security. Rising energy costs increase the price of agricultural production, from planting to harvesting and transportation. Fertilizer shortages, stemming from disruptions in production and trade, reduce crop yields. These combined effects lead to higher food prices and decreased food production, exacerbating food insecurity for populations dependent on affordable and readily available food supplies. Mitigating these effects requires diversifying energy sources, improving fertilizer production and distribution, and implementing sustainable farming practices to reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

What role do Russia and Ukraine play in global grain production, and how has the conflict affected this?

Russia and Ukraine are major players in the global production and export of essential food, energy, and chemical resources. Together, their combined wheat harvest reached 108.17 million tons, accounting for 13.89% of global output in the 2021/22 season. The conflict has significantly disrupted this production, leading to decreased yields, logistical challenges, and export restrictions. This disruption has caused increased market volatility and heightened concerns about potential food shortages, particularly in regions that rely heavily on grain imports from these countries. Addressing these challenges requires diversifying grain production globally, enhancing storage and transportation infrastructure, and promoting international cooperation to ensure a stable food supply.

How has trade protectionism exacerbated food security issues since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, many countries have imposed export restrictions, leading to increased tension between food supply and demand, which has fueled concerns about potential food shortages. Trade protectionism limits the availability of food resources in the global market, driving up prices and exacerbating food insecurity, especially for import-dependent nations. Encouraging trade liberalization and ensuring the unhindered flow of food resources are essential to mitigating these negative effects.

What specific actions are international organizations like the WTO, FAO, and WFP taking to stabilize global food markets in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Relevant international organizations, such as the WTO, FAO, and WFP, are collaborating to maintain the smooth operation of the international food market by advocating for trade liberalization and ensuring the unhindered flow of food resources. These organizations work to enhance food governance, avoid trade protectionism, and seek practical solutions to mitigate food price volatility. For example, the FAO provides technical assistance to improve agricultural practices and food production, the WFP delivers food aid to vulnerable populations, and the WTO promotes fair trade policies to stabilize markets. Securing global food security requires concerted efforts to build a fair, open, and efficient global food supply system, ensuring access to affordable and nutritious food for everyone.