The Russian war in Ukraine is taking place solely in Ukraine, but the effects of the conflict are global. Sanctions and counter-sanctions have increased energy prices, and fears of a food shortage have amplified as Ukraine and Russia are major grain exporters.
Still, it’s not just a reduction in grain exports that have food scarcity concerns soaring. Developed countries across the globe have committed themselves to a net-zero future (pdf) in which they shun fossil fuels like natural gas, and embrace wind and solar instead.
The transition to wind and solar might not have aggravated food concerns in an ideal environment. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine set the ball rolling on cascading challenges, including food production, as natural gas is a critical ingredient in nitrogen fertilizer, a key component in crop production….