WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall hosted an event discussing the war in Ukraine and what it means for global food security, according to a statement from his office.
Senator Marshall was joined by Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa as well as Ukrainian Civil Society leaders Dr. Hanna Hopko, Daria Kaleniuk, and Maria Berlinska.
“There is a perfect storm brewing in the Black Sea due to Putin’s unprovoked war. Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe and a major exporter of sunflower oil, corn, wheat, and other staple foods.
One third of all wheat exported in the world flows through the Black Sea. Every day this war continues takes us closer to the point-of-no-return where we will see food insecurity at a global level because it prevents Ukrainians from planting, harvesting, and shipping food. The commodity price explosion caused by this war will impact the pocketbook of every American already faced with staggering inflation,” said Senator Marshall.
“The strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people has inspired this nation and the world. We must get them the weapons they need and we must continue to stand side by side with them and all their farmers who work each day to feed and fuel those around the globe.”
The United Nations says prices for world food commodities like grains and vegetable oils have reached their highest levels ever because of Russia's war in Ukraine. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday that its Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices for a basket of commodities, averaged 159.3 points last month, up 12.6% from February.