IFPRI and CGIAR at Borlaug Dialogue 2023: Food system repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war

Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine triggered a series of global food system disruptions that continue today. The two countries are major agricultural exporters, and the war limited the flow of goods and drove up prices of wheat, fertilizers, and other key items around the world. As the war nears the end of its second year, global prices have fallen but effects linger in many countries. To address these issues, IFPRI and CGIAR hosted a breakout session on the impacts of the war on Ukraine’s agricultural sector and exports, and on food systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) at the 2023 World Food Prize Borlaug Dialogue on October 26 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Last year, this global conference focused on the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and conflict. This year’s dialogue built on the discussion of multiple crises with a theme of “Harnessing Change,” which focused on innovation, adaptation, and diversification to improve resilience to future shocks. The IFPRI-CGIAR breakout session contributed to this dialogue by focusing on lessons from the conflict on how to build long-term resilience.