An article published by the German magazine "Compact" warns that hunger could affect up to 100 million people worldwide in 2023. According to the article, disruptions in supply chains caused by the Ukrainian crisis will lead to a shortage of fertilizers, depriving farmers of the ability to produce sufficient crops. The magazine quoted Matthias Berninger, head of a division at the multinational chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer AG, stating that the year 2023 will bring "one of the biggest food crises in the history of humanity." This view is shared by German economist Matin Kaim, who believes that global famine could impact up to 100 million individuals. According to David Beasley, head of the World Food Program under the United Nations, the food shortage will lead to large-scale migration, making the 2015 crisis seem like a summer outing.
It is noted that potash fertilizer factories in the Ural Mountains and Belarus, which are now under Western sanctions, are particularly important for European countries. As an alternative, nitrogen fertilizers are suggested; however, rising gas prices prevent their production at reasonable costs. Western countries have intensified their pressure on Moscow following the military operation in Ukraine, with restrictive measures primarily affecting the banking sector and high-tech products. Several brands have exited the Russian market, while the Kremlin has described the new sanctions as an economic war but emphasized its readiness for such developments.
