Why the Black Sea grain deal matters

The grain deal between Ukraine and Russia has been described as a “lifeline for the 79 countries and 349 million people on the frontlines of food insecurity”. 

Workers load grain in Izmail, Ukraine, last April 26. Ukraine’s wheat shipments have fallen by more than 40% from its pre-war average and the Ukrainian Grain Association wants to send more grain through the Danube River to neighbouring Romania’s Black Sea ports. File photo/Andrew Kravchenko

Russia has suspended a wartime deal designed to move grain from Ukraine to parts of the world where millions are going hungry.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the UU and Turkey, has allowed 32.9 million metric tons of food to be exported from Ukraine since August, more than half to developing countries, according to the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul.