RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE RISKS GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS, WARNS OECD

RUSSIA’S brutal attack on Ukraine could trigger a global food crisis, a leading watchdog has warned.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said disruption to supplies of grain and other commodities could mean shortages, especially in low-income countries.

Even in the UK, experts say there could be gaps on shop shelves as rocketing prices and delays to deliveries bite.

The OECD said: ‘The first urgency is to avoid a food crisis. Today, the world is producing enough cereals to feed everyone, but prices are very high and the risk is that this production will not reach those who need it most. Global cooperation is needed to ensure food reaches consumers at affordable prices.’

Russia and Ukraine are heavy exporters of grain and sunflower seeds used in cooking oil. Since the attack on Ukraine, supplies have been hit as crops have been destroyed, pushing up prices.

Ian Wright, head of the Food and Drink Federation, said the effects of the war were ‘scary’, and added: ‘This is a bigger crisis than energy.’