Infinite Ripples of War

From energy to food and from powerful billionaires to humble farmers — the pain of war touches everything and everyone.

As the world stands by, powerless witness to the tragic events unfolding in Ukraine, the cascading effects have already begun to ripple out impacting global food systems, energy, climate, economies, and myriad other facets of life in the farthest corners of the world.

Humanitarian, food, climate, and energy crisis

Food — At the global scale, the agri-food market is suffering from skyrocketing prices of basic foods: According to the FAO Food Price Index, the average price of food was ranked 140.7 points for February alone, almost +4% from January and +20% from last year.

These figures have been gradually increasing week by week, intensifying tensions around global food security.

Also Italy is not exempted: forced to import most of the raw agricultural materials, such as wheat, corn, and barley, due to the low farmer compensation, the Italian food sector, composed of 740,000 agricultural enterprises — which was already struggling to cover production costs — is now at risk of collapse. From sunflower oil to meat, from wheat to corn and non-GMO soybeans, key sectors for Italian agri-food risk paralysis.

Within this context, we must also consider the effects on the stop of trade for fertilizers — as a sanction inflicted by US and EU leaders. The ripple effect touches everyone’s plate, as Belarus is the second-largest producer in the world of potassium (basic ingredient of many fertilizers), and Russia produces 13% of the world total.

Energy — The drastic increase in energy price is on everyone’s mind. We are talking about energy prices increasing close to +200% in Italy alone, which is affecting every sector, from the agri-food system to production, and generating a cascade effect on the price of oil — which reached $139 a barrel, the highest level in nearly 14 years, and increasing strikes.

In the meantime, EU policymakers are debating in the Versailles meeting how to lead the EU’s away from its energy dependence on Russia by 2027.

Climate — Faced with the urgent emergency triggered by the war, climate objectives no longer seem to be so urgent. Behind the priority of securing and increasing Europe’s production capacity and ensuring food self-sufficiency free from Russian influence, the main short-term option could be a return to coal, to fossil fuels, to fracking.

Dangerous steps backward are also starting to take place in the European agri-food system, with the loosening of environmental controls introduced with the last European reform.

How could the intention to increase the production of coal by 240% , oil by 71%, and gas by 57% by 2030, as published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) a few weeks ago, ever be in line with the Glasgow Declaration and the goals of decarbonization?

Sustainability and food security should not be a dichotomy, one should not exclude the other but one should be reinforced and justified in the other. Creating ecosystems capable of achieving a true balance, capable of acting for the collective good, capable of guaranteeing democratic access to resources, with new forms of decentralized and environmentally friendly governance: this is the real challenge today. A challenge on which international peaceful or conflict scenarios also depend, because climate, the environment, food, nutrition, energy, if well managed and administered, are incredible vehicles for peace.

Hope among the rubble

As a result of the pandemic, we have realized that the world is rich in heroes, ordinary people often invisible to big media who courageously put themselves on the front line to contrast egoism and hate with care and love. Acts of humanitarian solidarity that, from the tech community to businesses, are mobilizing efforts to sustain people’s needs.

Farmers for Peace — Action for Ukraine

As the exodus from Ukraine continues, so does the need for accommodations and other basic support.

At the same time, many European farmers suffer from loneliness due to their often remote locations and often have trouble finding help for their farms, especially in the upcoming spring season.

If there are any farmers who are willing to host refugees from Ukraine, submit your interest and you’ll appear on the map for those looking to find a safe space.

If you are not a farmer but still would like to host refugees, you can also take part!

#CookForUkraine

What started off as an idea between friends from a mutual love of food and a desire to help those in need, has now lead to the beginnings of a global movement…

#CookForUkraine aims to increase awareness of the humanitarian crisis the world faces right now, as well as raise the funds needed to aid children and families in Ukraine who have been displaced by the current situation.

Since its inception, hundreds of people from different backgrounds and nationalities, have reached out and shown their solidarity by joining this initiative — including top chefs, award-winning food writers, restaurant owners and home cooks — cooking, baking, and sharing Ukrainian and Eastern European inspired dishes at their restaurants with their guests, at home with their friends, and across social media with their family and followers.

#CookForUkraine also provides a platform for Ukrainian families and their supporters to share recipes with each other, along with the stories behind those dishes.

Join the movement — how to get involved

1. You can join the movement by hosting your own #CookForUkraine supper club or bake sale, inviting your friends and suggesting a donation to this Just Giving page. Share pictures on social media by adding the #CookForUkraine hashtag to connect with the community!
All proceeds will be directed to UNICEF UK’s Ukraine appeal, supporting children and families.

2. Get cooking, share your pictures, recipes and stories on social media by adding the #CookForUkraine hashtag.

3. Restaurant, Hotel, Cafe, Bar Owners, and Operators can add a voluntary £1, £2, or £5 donation to the bill throughout the month of March 2022. Email cookforukraine@gmail.com for details to get set up. Share your support on social media by adding the #CookForUkraine hashtag.

You can also donate any funds collected to this Just Giving page!

It is natural to feel helpless as we watch these events unfold before our eyes. But we are not helpless. We have the power to create our own ripples of support, of compassion, of solidarity. Organizations, driven by every day people, are sprouting up across the globe, each helping in their own small way. If you can’t find one, create one.

The Future Food Institute is an international ecosystem that believes climate change is at the end of your fork. By harnessing the power of its global ecosystem of partners, innovators, researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs, FFI aims to sustainably improve life on Earth through transformation of global food systems.

Through an integral ecological regeneration approach, FF trains the next generation of changemakers, empowers communities, and engages government and industry in actionable innovation, catalyzing progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the open-air living laboratory, the Paideia Campus in Pollica, Cilento, the Institute fosters active conservation of natural and cultural biodiversity and responsible innovation in the Mediterranean agri-food chain to leverage the intangible heritage of humanity as a model and strategy for the integral development of villages.

Learn more at www.futurefoodinsitute.org, join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube. Or attend a program through the FutureFood.Academy!