Russian fertilizers and agricultural products should be able to enter world markets “unhindered” in the face of the risk of a global food crisis as early as next year, its general secretary said today from Istanbul. UN Antonio Guterres.

The UN Secretary-General said governments and the private sector must work together to bring Russian food and fertilizer, as well as Ukrainian grain, to world markets, in line with an agreement reached last month.

“It is important that governments and the private sector work together to bring them to market,” said Guterres of the Joint Coordinating Center (JCC), tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Ukrainian grain export agreement, which was signed in July from Kyiv and Moscow under the auspices of UN and Turkey.

This agreement also ensures that Russia can export its agricultural products and fertilizers despite Western sanctions.

“What we see here in Istanbul and Odessa (transportation of Ukrainian grain, s.s.) is only the most visible side of the solution. The other side of this comprehensive agreement is unhindered access to world markets for Russian food and fertilizer products that are not subject to sanctions,” Guterres said, stressing that, despite this, the export of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products still faces “obstacles” .

“Without fertilizer in 2022, there may not be enough food in 2023. Exporting more food and fertilizer from Ukraine and Russia is very important to further calm commodity markets and lower prices for consumers.”

^{Source: APE, AFP, Reuters.}