Pavlo Koval: Food Security Has Become an Integral Part of National and Global Security

The war in Ukraine, the escalating conflict in the Middle East, and accelerating climate change are increasingly affecting global food security. Today's challenges demonstrate that the stability of the global food market depends not only on agricultural production but also on resilient logistics, reliable critical infrastructure, and effective international cooperation.

This was emphasized by Pavlo Koval, Director General of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation (UAC), commenting to GlobalWatch on the growing risks facing the global agricultural sector.

According to Koval, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked a turning point for the global food supply system. The blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports in 2022 exposed the vulnerability of international food supply chains. The simultaneous surge in grain, energy, fertilizer, and transportation costs quickly affected markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

"The main lesson of the war in Ukraine is that food security can no longer be viewed separately from broader security issues. Today, it is determined not only by harvest volumes but also by the ability to produce, store, transport agricultural products, and ensure the resilience of the entire supply chain," Pavlo Koval stressed.

He noted that the war has inflicted enormous losses on Ukraine's agricultural sector. Approximately 5 million hectares of agricultural land remain inaccessible due to occupation, landmines, and active hostilities. Agricultural infrastructure—including grain elevators, warehouses, export terminals, and transport hubs—has suffered extensive destruction. According to international estimates, the total direct and indirect losses of Ukraine's agricultural sector are approaching USD 70 billion.

At the same time, the world is facing new challenges. Escalating tensions in the Middle East have created additional risks to global supplies of energy and fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz, increasing production costs and putting further upward pressure on food prices. Meanwhile, climate change continues to intensify extreme weather events, negatively affecting agricultural production in many regions of the world.

According to Pavlo Koval, the combination of military, logistical, economic, and climate-related risks should serve as a clear signal to the international community that existing approaches to food security require fundamental reassessment.

"Food security begins far beyond agricultural fields. Today, it is built on reliable transport logistics, protected critical infrastructure, and the willingness of governments to maintain international cooperation even during periods of profound global crises," the UAC Director General said.

Koval concluded that the recovery of Ukraine's agricultural sector is strategically important not only for Ukraine and Europe but also for strengthening global food security. Ukraine remains one of the world's leading producers and exporters of agricultural commodities, while its agricultural sector continues to play a vital role in ensuring the stability of international food markets.

IC UAC according to globalwatch [2]