The war in Ukraine poses a looming threat to the worldwide food supply.

Converging disruptions have sent food prices soaring. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s six breadbasket regions, risks tilting the food system into global crisis.

We see this conflict shaking important pillars of this system very recently through Malaysia’s decision to halt exports of 3.6mil chickens a month from June 1, in which Singapore is adversely impacted being a consumer country that imports food.

This crisis will have also clear secondary effects on other breadbaskets, like Brazil, where Singapore gets 48% of its chicken exports. Wet market sellers are reporting chicken shortage ahead of the ban, while some may consider closing their stalls temporarily.

With a potential for a global food emergency and an increase in global hunger, how concerned should we be?