Irish dairy and beef farmers are being urged to start growing crops, as agriculture ministers from G7 countries prepare to meet on Friday to discuss grain shortages and food price volatility.
There are rising fears that consumers will face price hikes on staple foods such as bread and fuel, with grain supplies disrupted by the conflict.
The Ukrainian government said on Wednesday that it was banning the export of grains, sugar, salt and meat for the rest of the year.
It supplies 30% of the world's wheat and barley, which is enough to cause fears of shortages not seen since the second world war, when consumers in Britain were encouraged to plant vegetables in gardens, yards and on rooftops.
20% of the UK's cereals are supplied by Ukraine, according to government data. The price of wheat futures had gone up on six consecutive days.
When the market closed on Tuesday, wheat was trading in London at 220 a ton, but had gone up to 289.50 a ton.
We know that supply chains are going to have extra costs. Fuel and processing costs are going up. If we look at a load of bread, wheat makes up 10% of the cost of a loaf you get in the supermarket with less than 10% coming from other parts of the supply chain, and we know other parts of the supply chain, such as fuel, have not been shielded.
Ronald Kers, the chief executive of 2 Sisters Food Group, the UK's biggest chicken producer, told the Times that the cost of growing a chicken had increased by 50% since last January and he expected food inflation to exceed predictions.
The market was already squeezed by shortages caused by the US and Canada having a dry year. The price of fertiliser went up as it relied on natural gas.
The Russian invasion has caused food supply issues in Ireland, so the agriculture minister asked farmers to grow more crops. Farmers want the government to give them vouchers to fertilise the land for crops and winter fodder.
Irish farming is dominated by beef and dairy producers.
Food security is important over the next few weeks and months and we have to work on it.
The first time this would have happened since the second world war, I think one of the most economical things that any farm can do is grow grain.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
