The Role of the Invasion of Ukraine in the 2022 Food Supply Crisis

Record high 2022 food prices have led to a food security crisis which has left vulnerable people struggling to pay for sustenance. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated shocks to supply and demand that occurred during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Global demand for food is booming, but global supply is unable to keep up, resulting in price rises which most affect those least able to afford them. This policy brief assesses the role of the invasion of Ukraine in the food crisis and examines three key commodities most affected by the invasion and subsequent sanctions – wheat, sunflower oil and fertilizer.