The EBRD Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) plays an important role in food and agriculture in the economies where the EBRD invests. However, the war on Ukraine has put international food security at risk.

Ukraine and Russia are both major exporters of common grains such as wheat, barley, sunflower and maize. Unfortunately, exports of harvested crops have come to a standstill because of disruption to the trade corridors through the Black Sea ports, and many farmers have been unable to plant new crops for the spring. The war has pushed food prices up dramatically, which is severely affecting countries that rely on food imports.