UN official warns of looming food crisis as Hormuz fertiliser plan stalls

Without a quick deal to move fertiliser through the strait, agricultural productivity would ‘significantly drop’.Published On 14 Oct 202614 Oct 2026A senior United Nations official has warned that parts of Asia and Africa could face a food security crisis unless Iran and the United States quickly agree on a UN-backed plan to move fertiliser through the embattled Strait of Hormuz.UN ⁠Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva said on Wednesday that it was “absolutely critical” that the two countries agree to the proposal within weeks as planting season approaches. It calls for a UN-staffed coordination centre in Oman to help register vessels and oversee their safe passage in the waterway, through which a large portion of key global fertiliser inputs traditionally flow.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3War and high debt to dominate IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkoklist 2 of 3Namibia battles cattle disease outbreak as EU suspends several meat importslist 3 of 3Food shortages in Yemen’s Taiz as Houthi siege hits suppliesend of list“If we miss that planting season, the productivity of agriculture would significantly drop and the impact on prices will significantly incre...