Challenges facing global wheat production
In China, the world’s leading wheat producer, the sector’s growth is contributing to environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions.
In Kazakhstan, wheat is grown on half of the country’s total arable land, resulting in desertification and exposing the country to climate risks due to monoculture practices.
In Ukraine, the war with Russia has resulted in the mining of agricultural land and the massive destruction of energy and water supply systems, which has greatly impacted the small and medium scale farmers in the region. Ukraine is one of Europe’s largest grain producers, and the war’s impact on exports has driven up global food prices.
Small-scale Ukrainian maize and wheat producers can no longer export their products because only large agricultural holdings can use the currently limited logistics routes. They have three options: sell domestically, farm livestock and use grain for feed, or start growing other crops.
Inna Hoch, lead national technical analyst, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ukraine
Read the full wheat explainer How can we grow wheat more sustainably?
