Arabic version: نقص الأسمدة يهدد إمدادات الغذاء العالمية، تحذير من الرئيس التنفيذي

The interruption to supplies of fertiliser and its key ingredients due to the war in Iran could cost up to ten billion meals a week globally and will hit poorest countries hardest, according to Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of Yara. He highlighted the severe implications for food production due to blocked shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Holsether emphasized that the reduction in nitrogen fertiliser production could lead to significant crop yield declines, with some crops facing reductions of up to 50% in the first season. He warned that a bidding war for food could ensue, particularly affecting vulnerable populations in developing nations.

In the UK, while immediate food shortages are unlikely, rising costs are anticipated to impact consumer prices. The Food and Drink Federation has forecasted food inflation could reach 10% by December, with the Bank of England predicting a rise in food price inflation to 4.6% in September.

The price of fertiliser has soared by 80% since the beginning of the US and Israel’s war on Iran, adding pressure on farmers who are grappling with increasing costs for energy and other inputs. Holsether urged European nations to consider the broader impacts of price wars on global food security.

According to BBC News, the challenges faced by farmers could lead to severe consequences for food affordability, scarcity, and hunger, particularly in the most affected regions.