Maslennikov noted that Russia is the world's largest exporter of wheat and that coordinated formation of joint food reserves with friendly countries, particularly members of the Eurasian Economic Union and BRICS, should serve as a response to growing threats to global food security. He reminded that about half of the world's food is grown using fertilizers, while one-third of global fertilizer trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. "To ensure food security, it is extremely important to expand cooperation with friendly countries, primarily member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and BRICS, including through the creation of joint food reserves," said Maslennikov, deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, according to domestic news agencies. Maslennikov warned that the crisis in the Middle East poses a serious threat to global food security. If the global fertilizer shortage persists until the beginning of summer, yields of major crops could be halved, which would trigger the most pronounced rise in global food price inflation in recent years. He added that the number of hungry people worldwide could increase to a record 673 million. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations World Food Programme warned last week that the sharp rise in oil, natural gas, and fertilizer prices, driven by the war in the Middle East, would inevitably lead to higher food costs and increased food insecurity. Although Russia is a major producer and exporter of fertilizers, it currently lacks the capacity to significantly increase production this year, while simultaneously aiming to boost agricultural exports by half by 2030. Maslennikov emphasized that the current conditions, while posing risks to Russia's own food security, also open long-term opportunities for domestic agricultural producers. "Russia is in a strong position to increase food exports to Middle Eastern countries, as well as to Asia, Africa, and Latin America," said Maslennikov.