Sanctions against Belarus led to food shortages in the world, the U.S. expert believes

Sanctions against Belarus have led to food shortages in the world. This was stated by Michael Cunningham, director of the project “Geography of Genocide” (a member of the International Affairs Council of Austin, Texas, USA) at the international conference “Strengthening the Capacity of the Republic of Belarus to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: Strategies and Partnerships in the Context of Contemporary Challenges and Climate Agenda”, BelTA informs.

The American expert analyzed the consequences of unilateral coercive measures for global food security and achievement of Sustainable Development Goal number 2 - to eliminate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

The expert pointed out that Belarus is one of the world's largest producers of potassium, a key ingredient of fertilizers used in agriculture. The country is the world's third largest producer of potash fertilizers, is its largest exporter and has some of the largest reserves of such fertilizers on the planet. "In recent years, Belarus has faced economic sanctions based on unproven claims. However, these sanctions have had a significant impact on the global economy, forcing people in many countries around the world to starve or go without food,” he emphasized. - - And isn't that a more serious problem than the ones due to which the sanctions were imposed?"

The result of unilateral coercive measures, he said, was a significant reduction in the production and export of potash fertilizers, which affected farmers in various countries. This, in turn, led to lower yields and food production, resulting in shortages and higher prices.

The sanctions have also disrupted the supply chain of potash fertilizers and other agricultural inputs, making it difficult for farmers to access the resources needed to grow crops. “This has further exacerbated the problem of food security in countries that rely on Belarusian potash for their agricultural practices,” said Michael Cunningham.

The economic impact of the sanctions is also the loss of jobs, reducing the income of people working in the potash industry and related industries. This has led to increased poverty and food insecurity among vulnerable groups, further exacerbating the problem of hunger and malnutrition around the world, the American expert pointed out.

He emphasized that all this is happening against the backdrop of a growing global population and increasing demand for food. The negative impact on the environment should also be taken into account: reduced availability of fertilizers forces farmers to use alternative, less effective methods of increasing yields.