“We’ve got to do two things at once. Get food to the hungry now, but also help countries build up their agricultural 6productivity 7resilience.”

The conflict directly hitting supplies of critical foodstuffs, like wheat, corn, and sunflower oil while also impacting global agricultural production.

“Here’s the thing that will affect the United States: 25% of the world’s export of nitrogen-based 8fertilizer comes from Russia/Ukraine. And we don’t have a 9viable 10substitute for that yet.”

Here at home, many Americans feeling the effects and for some, it could get worse.

"We’re preparing for an increased demand for food."

The rising cost of food is now set to collide with an end to COVID-era food assistance policy that increased SNAP benefits.

“It’s almost a 11twofold effect, the benefit levels going down and people are already struggling with high food prices.”

An estimated 16 million households receiving SNAP benefits will see them decrease by at least $95 a month beginning this month. But as food banks prepare to provide increased assistance to those in need, there is hope that a strong 12jobs market and improving wages will 13soften the blow.