Food insecurity returns

End of Ukraine grain deal spells trouble

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed with considerable fanfare last year as an attempt to insulate Ukrainian wheat export from the fallout of the Russian invasion of that country, has expired. The Russian Federation has refused to renew its participation in the deal, meaning that the Black Sea is once again largely closed to vessels carrying food grain. The reasons for this Russian action are manifold. One is that Russia itself, as a major wheat producer, has ample alternative pathways for its exports. The other is that it is expected to have a bumper harvest over the year, and will