How Japan Is Helping Ukraine End The Global Wheat Shortage

 

How Japan Is Helping Ukraine End The Global Wheat Shortage

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BY WENDY LEIGH/JULY 5, 2022 4:43 PM EDT

The 2022 worldwide wheat and grain shortage spawned by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February continues to impact nations across the globe. Reduced supplies and soaring prices hit hard, especially in the 36 out of 55 food-crisis countries that depended heavily on wheat imports from Ukraine and the Russian Federation in 2021, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The crisis is multi-pronged, and solutions are slowly evolving.

Roman Slaston, a Ukrainian farmer and general director for the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club explained to NPR that the wheat and grain crops are crucial for feeding the Ukrainian people but also for exporting. As one of the top five global grain exporters, per the FAO, Ukraine's inner struggles are consequential. But the tangled web of inter-lapping issues as of July 2022 dig deep. They currently center on port blockages and grain storage capacity, which in turn complicate production. That's where Japan enters the conversation — and becomes part of the solution.

Japan and FAO seek Ukrainian wheat solutions

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In early June 2022, NPR reported through its podcast, "The Indicator," that 20 million tons of wheat and grain exports were trapped inside Ukrainian borders due to the Russian invasion and naval blockades. Almost all the 60 million tons of annual Ukrainian grain exports traditionally go through seaports — but that came to a screeching halt. The effects have devastated Ukrainian farming families and the global food supply, leading to intervention by the FAO and funding by Japan.

The blockaded Black Sea ports ultimately left 18 million tons of 2021 grain harvests in storage, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, per the FAO. That equates to 30% of filled Ukrainian storage space before the potential 60 million tons of harvested grain in the upcoming July/August season. To face this problem head-on, the FAO has now launched a $17 million project to help with grain storage, exports to international markets, and future production capacity.

With Japan's $17 million in funding, storage deficits will be decreased on multiple levels, explains Pierre Vauthier, Head of FAO Ukraine Country Office. Support for farmers in 10 regions includes the provision of polyethylene grain sleeves for storage, grain loading machinery, and modular storage containers. Funding is also slated for alternative grain transportation routes, laboratory expansion, and international food-safety standards.

Japan previously provided funding in April for Ukraine's FAO Humanitarian Response Programme, bring its total Ukrainian crisis contribution to $20 million, per the FAO.

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Healthy Bread Brands You Can Find In Any Grocery Store

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BY MEREDITH COOPER/JAN. 3, 2022 4:48 PM EDT

Let's be honest, it can be very difficult shopping for nutritious foods. Take bread, for example. For one person gluten is a strict no-no. For someone else, fiber content is the most crucial line on a product's nutritional information panel. Yes, when it comes to breads, there's no one size fits all option. But that doesn't mean there aren't some guidelines to help you make the best choices to meet your individual health needs.

Of course, a good starting point is checking if a brand uses tons of chemicals like artificial dyes in their breads. Other possible buzzwords and phrases to watch for include "organic," "non-GMO," "gluten-free," and "all natural." But as Consumer Reports points out, even a manufacturer that uses natural ingredients could have breads that are high in sodium or sugar. Plus, it's not uncommon for a particular food brand to have a diverse portfolio of products, some of which you might want as your go-to bread option, while others might not be the right choice for your health.

So, no matter how you slice it (no pun intended), it's important to be a conscientious consumer and read food labels — not just when shopping for bread, but for all types of food. With that said, there are some brands in your local supermarket's bread aisle that stand out for their healthy product options.

Nature's Own

Nature's Own

With a name like Nature's Own, you'd assume this bread brand focuses on natural ingredients. And you'd be right. As it highlights on its website, it doesn't use artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives in its products. Its breads also do not contain high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient that has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. However, that doesn't mean their breads lack sweetness.

Several of Nature's Own breads use honey. And, yes, let's take a moment to address the elephant in the room: Honey is high in sugar. In fact, honey is basically pure sugar. However, research shows honey is a potentially good addition to your diet if you have health problems like high blood pressure or cholesterol (via Healthline).

Another highlight of Nature's Own products are they contain no trans fats, which have been connected to health problems like high cholesterol and heart disease (via FDA). In fact, even though trans fats do occur naturally in foods made from animals like meat, the trans fats that are sometimes found in breads are more like another artificial ingredient. This is because some manufacturers create trans fats by altering the vegetable oil used to make their products.

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/719176/healthy-bread-brands-you-can-find-in-any-grocery-store/?utm_campaign=clip