A promising, less labor-intensive perennial rice is beginning to take off in China, but whether this success can be replicated in other crops like wheat or corn remains to be seen.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations says prices of food commodities like grains and vegetable oils soared in March following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Last year, the region imported more than 36 million metric tons of wheat, mostly from Russia and Ukraine. The concern is that Russia's war in Ukraine could disrupt supplies and drive up prices.