Climate Change and Geopolitics Worsen the Food Crisis The deepening global food crisis is no longer merely a regional issue. The food shortages in Africa and the Middle East, extreme natural disasters in Southeast Asia and South America, and the grain supply chain crisis triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war, all frequently reported in the news, ultimately pose a common question: "How can we solve the global food crisis?" With agricultural productivity declining due to climate change and geopolitical conflicts, global food security faces a new level of crisis, and Korean society is not immune to these challenges. Climate change is one of the major challenges facing human society. Over the past decade, the average global temperature has risen, leading to a surge in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as severe droughts and floods. While agricultural production generally relies on stable climatic conditions, extreme weather events have severely impacted crop yields. International agricultural experts point out that the decline in production due to climate change has accelerated in major grain-producing regions in recent years. Dr. Anya Gupta, Chief Economist at the World Bank, warned in an article contributed to Project Syndicate that climate change would not only affect agricultural productivity but also collapse food distribution systems in poor and developing countries, having devastating effects on health and economic stability. Furthermore, the Russia-Ukraine war has blocked globally vital grain export routes, causing rising food prices and supply shortages that have even hit developed nations accustomed to abundance. Geopolitical conflicts are also accelerating the food crisis. The Russia-Ukraine war has significantly impacted maritime trade around the Black Sea, a major crossroads for the world's grain market. Ukraine is one of the world's leading grain exporters, holding a significant share in the international wheat market. However, since the outbreak of the war, ports leading to the Black Sea have been militarily blockaded, leading to supply shortages in the international food market. This has been a primary factor in rising food prices, proving particularly devastating for developing countries highly dependent on food imports. In addition, export restrictions and sanctions on Russia, a major fertilizer producer, have driven fertilizer prices to record highs. In recent years, prices of major fertilizers, including nitrogen fertilizers, have sharply increased compared to pre-pandemic levels, imposing a heavy production cost burden on low-income farmers. As a result, many farmers are reducing fertilizer use or shrinking cultivated areas, creating a vicious cycle that leads to further decreases in agricultural production. This global food crisis is also directly affecting Korean society. South Korea's food self-sufficiency rate remains relatively low compared to other major developed countries. In particular, the self-sufficiency rates for major grains like wheat and corn are very low, with almost all demand met by imports. According to analyses by domestic research institutions, including the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), a significant portion of domestically consumed grains is imported from the international market, indicating that Korea is highly vulnerable to disruptions in global supply chains. In this situation, fluctuations in international grain prices are immediately reflected in domestic prices, especially food prices, burdening general consumers. The phenomenon of domestic food price inflation consistently exceeding overall inflation in recent years is directly related to the instability of the global food market. So, what are the alternatives to overcome this crisis? Experts suggest the need for developing climate-resilient agricultural technologies. Global agricultural companies are already developing salt-tolerant and disease-resistant crop varieties or experimenting with drones and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency. In Korea, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is collaborating with national agricultural research institutes to develop such technologies, but bold achievements have been hampered by budget constraints and policy priorities. Developing new climate-adaptive varieties and disseminating smart farming technologies will be key strategies for maintaining and improving agricultural productivity in the long term. South Korean Society and the Reality of Food Self-Sufficiency As a second alternative, there is a dominant opinion that international food stockpiling systems must be strengthened. Domestic agricultural experts emphasize that Korea needs to expand its food reserves and, in particular, establish strategic grain storage facilities to respond to crises. Beyond simply storing goods, a stockpiling system must have a mechanism for rapid distribution in times of crisis. This requires long-term investment coupled with an eff
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