Biden warns that food shortages will ‘be real’

The President of the United StatesJoe Biden said on Thursday that the food shortage was “real” and that it was one of the issues he was talking to in Brussels today.

“The price of sanctions will not only be on Russia, but on many countries, including European countries and ours,” the president told a news conference.

Biden said food shortages would be exacerbated by the fact that both Russia and Ukraine are “Europe’s bread baskets” and that he had talked to G7 leaders about how to speed up the wheat trade and “end trade restrictions” on shipping. Food abroad.

He pointed out that Canada and the United States, the main producers of wheat, discussed how they could increase their exports to alleviate food shortages in the poorest countries.

Some countries have imposed export restrictions on certain foods they produce. However, the United States has asked them to end these restrictions in order to face war in Ukraine.

Relieve worries about food shortages

“To ease those concerns about food shortages, we talk to our European friends about what it is and what they need,” Biden explained.

Almost from the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24, the UN And its agencies warned that the war would be a very severe blow to many countries. Given that Russia and Ukraine are the two largest producers of grains and fertilizers in the world, this is due to rising fuel prices.

They provide high levels of sunflower and wheat germ oil

Among others, Russia and Ukraine account for more than half of the world’s sunflower oil and 30% wheat supply.

According to the United Nations, Ukraine alone produces more than half of the wheat used by the World Food Program (WFP), which helps countries around the world fight hunger.

In addition, there are 45 countries in Africa and elsewhere that import at least a third of wheat from Ukraine or Russia. Another 18 buy at least half, including Egypt, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Syria, Somalia, Sudan or Yemen.