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Russia-Ukraine grain deal that has been critical to keeping
global food prices relatively stable and preventing famine in
parts of the world is in tatters. Earlier this week, Russia
said it was pulling out of the year-old deal, which allowed
shipments of grains and other foodstuffs to travel past the
Russian naval blockade in the Black Sea. And to make matters
worse, over the next two days Russia bombed the Ukrainian port
of Odesa, destroying more than 60,000 tons of grain.
As
a result, food prices have surged, with the cost of wheat,
corn and soybeans in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere all
skyrocketing. So, what is the grain deal, and why is it so
important to the global food supply chain?
Anna
Nagurney is an expert on supply chains, including those
involving perishable products like food, and is co-chair of
the board of directors overseeing the Kyiv School of Economics
in Ukraine. Here,
she explains how important Ukrainian grain is to feeding the
world – and why the Black Sea is a vital route to getting it
to people who need it.
Also
this week, check out a trio of reports on China,
and read our
coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off
today. |
The grain deal allowed Ukrainian corn and
other products to reach ports in Lebanon and elsewhere. AP Photo/Hassan Ammar
Anna Nagurney, UMass Amherst
Russia’s
move, which it followed by bombing the key port city of Odesa
and threatening to attack any ship sailing for Ukraine, sent
global food prices skyrocketing. |
Too few children means China needs to look
outside the country for new blood. Zhang Peng/LightRocket via Getty
Images
Dudley L. Poston Jr., Texas A&M University
Chinese
politicians have looked toward policies to encourage couples
to have more children to offset population decline. It hasn’t
worked. |
