The Weaponization of Food: How Supply Chains Became Political Tools
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the shock waves went far beyond the battlefield. Global wheat and fertilizer prices soared, exposing how food has become a geopolitical weapon in an interconnected world. Today, control over agricultural exports daftar akun Naga169 and supply chains is as strategic as oil and gas once were.
Ukraine and Russia together supply nearly 30 percent of the world’s wheat. Their conflict disrupted shipments across Africa and the Middle East, pushing millions toward hunger. The UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative offered temporary relief but collapsed amid mutual distrust.
Now, new food alliances are emerging. Brazil and Argentina expand soybean and corn exports to Asia, while India restricts rice shipments to stabilize domestic prices. “Food security is the new currency of power,” says FAO economist Arif Hassan.
Climate change compounds the crisis. Droughts in East Africa, floods in Pakistan, and heatwaves in Europe have slashed harvests. Meanwhile, multinational corporations dominate fertilizer and seed markets, leaving developing nations vulnerable to market shocks.
Governments are responding by re-nationalizing food policies and investing in resilient supply chains. But experts warn that protectionism could worsen inequality. The politics of food now extend beyond farms — into diplomacy, trade, and even conflict.