In the introduction of Scott Reynold Nelson’s new book Oceans of Grain: How American Wheat Remade the World, he writes “Ukraine has what may be the richest soil in the world.”  Throughout history, what is today Ukraine, was considered a prize for ambitious emperors who saw the fertile land as a way to feed populations in their homeland, and in conquered lands.  

Today, Ukraine is the world’s 4th largest exporter of corn and the world’s 5th largest exporter of wheat, and between Ukraine and Russia, the two countries produce 30-percent of the world’s wheat and 12-percent of the world’s calories.  But with the region that is known today as the “World’s breadbasket” now embroiled in war after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, wheat prices and global food prices have hit record highs, pushing the world towards a global food crisis.

To explore the historical significance of grain to this region and hear how it's factoring into Russia's war in Ukraine and a global food crisis, we spoke with Scott Reynolds Nelson, Professor of History at the University of Georgia and author of the new book Oceans of Grain: How American Wheat Remade the World.