The Russian ban on grain exports came as the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization called an emergency meeting to discuss the wheat shortage, and riots in Mozambique which left seven dead. The FAO says the concern about a possible repeat of the 2007-08 food crisis had resulted in "an enormous number" of inquiries from member countries. Officials say the purpose of holding this meeting is for exporting and importing countries to engage.
Russia's export ban has already forced importers in the Middle East and North Africa to seek supplies in Europe. Abdolreza Abbassian, of the FAO in Rome, says this is quite serious. Two years in a row without Russian exports creates quite a disturbance. Some analysts have called this a wake-up call for importing nations about the reliability of Russia.
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