Europe Must Lead Coalition to Prevent Global Food Crisis Amid War, Drought, and Hunger

Global food prices are rising at an alarming rate, threatening millions of lives and global security. According to the European Council on Foreign Relations, three converging factors are contributing to this crisis: Russia's war in Ukraine disrupting agricultural exports, the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz restricting fertiliser shipments, and a potential 'super El Niño' causing widespread droughts.

The UN General Assembly is approaching, but with an absence of political leadership, including in multilateral institutions. A coalition of leaders convened by the UN secretary-general managed to curb a similar crisis in 2022, but this time around, multiple challenges stand in the way of a solution. Logistically, war damage and low water levels make it harder to get grain out of the region.

A comprehensive global effort is required on several fronts: drought support for farmers, the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and access to fertiliser. Europe should lead this initiative, convening a coalition of states influential among the combatants in the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, as well as those exposed to the crisis.

The joint initiative would involve distributing food relief and technical assistance on drought-resistant agriculture and soil fertility, funded by the World Food Programme's budget. Coalition members should strive for a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, including an end to attacks on ships carrying grain and ports identified as central to grain, fertilisers, and inputs.