The Black Sea Grain deal, a global food lifeline and key for world fertilizer supplies is being extended for several more months. The grain initiative was set to expire last weekend in what could have been another tragic consequence of Russia’s war against Ukraine, risking starvation in much of the developing world.
At an APEC summit in Thailand, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the deadline was extended 120 days after an earlier G-20 summit.
“Together, we sent a clear message to President Putin that he should extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative which was set to expire on Saturday. Russia, again, heard and apparently felt that the world would not accept Moscow refusing to extend the agreement,” he said.
Blinken accused Russia of “weaponizing food” with its earlier blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and destruction of the country’s ag facilities. The war has driven up prices for wheat, corn, and fertilizer, with Russia and Ukraine among the top exporters.
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Sabrina Halvorson
National Correspondent / AgNet Media, Inc.
Sabrina Halvorson is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker who specializes in agriculture. She primarily reports on legislative issues and hosts The AgNet News Hour and The AgNet Weekly podcast. Sabrina is a native of California’s agriculture-rich Central Valley.