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ECOSOC BRIEFING FILE
K E Y F I G U R E S
➢ 345 Million people in around 82
countries in the world face food
insecurity
➢ 2% percent rise in Maize and
Wheat prices since January
➢ At least 23 countries have
implemented 33 food export bans
directly due to the conflict in
Ukraine
K E Y D O C U M E N T S
➢ World Bank 2022 Commodity
Markets Outlook
➢ World Food Programme
➢ Effect of Ukraine War on food
security
➢ UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation
➢ The Rome Declaration
E X T R A R E A D I N G
➢ Ukraine Exports
➢ CNBC Report on Ukraine War’s
effect on fertilizers and food
costs
THE QUESTION OF FOOD SECURITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
T O P I C O V E R V I E W
Defined by the USDA as the "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe
foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways", food
insecurity is one of the most pressing concerns in our world today. Without enough food, serious
issues can arise such as child malnutrition, stunted growth, depression, anxiety and sleep
disorders, as well as the reduced capacity to cope with things like work or illness.
This had been a recurring issue for many years, and although steps have been taken to reduce
such problems, such as the setting up of a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Rome
Declaration and the UN Decade of Action plan, more could be done by to help food security in
developing countries, as the current political climate and ecological state of many countries, like
Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Yemen and South Sudan.
K E Y I S S U E S
The world has changed vastly since the last food-related summit was held in 2016. Therefore, we
need to introduce new emergency measures to counter-act these issues.
In particular, the Ukraine War has played a key role in doing so. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has
greatly affected the world’s agriculture industry since it and Belarus produced 40 percent of the
world’s potash, which is a key ingredient for making fertilizers. Sanctions on Russian exports by
the EU, UK and US have meant that the prices of fertilizers have shot up accordingly, making it
exceedingly hard for developing countries to farm crops for food. On top of this, prices for key
crops like wheat, corn and sunflowers for sunflower oil have greatly increased as well, because for
example Ukraine is the world’s number one exporter of sunflower oil, and makes up 12 percent of
the world’s corn exports, the blockades due to the war have greatly decreased the supply for
both, making it extremely difficult for developing countries to buy food as it is now more scarce
and expensive, which will contribute negatively to food security.
P R O P O S E D / P O S S I B L E S O L U T I O N S
It has already been the case in July that the UN has overseen a meeting between Russia and
Ukraine to negotiate a lifting of the blockade of Ukrainian trade exports, for millions of tonnes of
Ukrainian agricultural products to recirculate into the market to lower prices, helping the
countries with the greatest food security- talks were facilitated by Turkey who is significant
importers of corn, wheat and barley from Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine should put aside their
differences and work together for the common good of the world.
At the same time, the UN calls for the countries in the EU, the US and UK, as well as Russia, to
participate in talks to renegotiate sanctions on Russia’s fertilizer-related exports, to boost
fertilizer production to make it easier for developing countries to grow crops.
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