How to prevent food from becoming a weapon of war

The conflict in Ukraine has exposed the fragile geopolitics that underpin global food systems, threatening the health, livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of people around the world.

Just as Europe is now counting the cost of relying on imported fossil fuels, the crisis brings into stark relief the world’s reliance on limited sources of a critical staple food. With gas supplies already being weaponized, the potential remains for global food security to be held hostage in the conflict, with wheat a bargaining chip for the lives of millions.

Read the full op-ed published by The Hill, and co-authored by Marco Ferroni, CGIAR System Board Chair.

Header photo: A scientist runs a baking test for bread made with wheat from ICARDA’s bread wheat breeding program. Credit: ICARDA