How a shortage of fertilizer and animal feed endangers Jamaica’s traditional beef patty
In this edition, a fertilizer and animal feed shortage is threatening traditional staples around the world
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THE STORY
Vladimir Putin, speaking last Monday at a conference for Russian and African parliamentarians in Moscow, offered to provide “free food” to African countries most threatened by food insecurity. It was a reminder of how effectively Putin continues to present himself as a bulwark for developing countries against the economic might of the West. Prices of food and fertilizer may have stabilized, after enormous spikes, but food supply is still threatened. A recent World Economic Forum report ranked “a looming food supply crisis as one of the top four threats facing the world.”
In Liberia, a meal is not considered complete without rice. Ghanaians lament days as wasted if not accompanied by fufu, a ball of starchy vegetable mash. As in France, bread makes the meal in Egypt. But these traditional staples are becoming harder to find and more expensive. From Malawi to Jamaica, the effects are being felt.