Syria’s wheat production collapsed this year, but it was not due to the nearly decade-long civil war. The FAO cites three causes: 1) drought; 2) high input costs; and 3) economic crisis. Indeed, despite massive destruction and poverty due to the war, Syria 2019 wheat crop was the largest since 2003.  Looking at other countries that have undergone civil and economic strife and war, including Argentina, Egypt, Iraq and Ukraine, grain output has barely been impacted. This is because most of the adversity happens in urban areas. There may be harsh outcomes in terms of who controls and distributes the harvest, but neither side of a conflict wants to stop food production.  ...

TAGS – Wheat, Middle East & Africa