Global Food Supplies Under Threat From Heat, Conflicts, Lower Crops - Reports

MOSCOW, Aug 24 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- A confluence of three factors has put global food supplies at risk, according to the New York Times, which cited University of Guelph professor Evan Fraser, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.

The newspaper notes that conflicts have hampered food supply routes, such as grain, while climate change is exacerbating the situation by lowering water levels along key shipping routes. Furthermore, heat and drought are reducing harvests in major crop-producing countries.

"The system we currently have in place depends on three things: seamless trade, cheap energy, stable climate," Fraser, who specialises in the global food system, told the publication. "Today, it seems none of these assumptions are met."

Due to a severe drought, the United States is expected to harvest its worst wheat crop since 1970, the newspaper recalls. Australia, another major grain supplier, has reduced its wheat acreage due to high fertiliser prices, while France and Germany are expecting harvest declines due to abnormal heat.

As the publication notes, wheat stockpiles following last year's good harvest are currently mitigating the global price situation.

Fraser believes that the food system that has existed for years is unsuitable for the current times and needs to be rethought.

-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI