Are we facing a food crisis?

Key Points:

• The ongoing Middle East conflict, combined with high fuel prices and fertiliser shortages, is raising global concerns about a major food crisis exacerbated by climatic and geopolitical factors.
• Export restrictions by China, Russia, and Turkey have cut nearly half of the global nitrogen fertiliser supply, with significant trade passing through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the UN to establish a task force to maintain trade flow.
• Fertiliser shortages and high costs are affecting farmers worldwide, including 25% of US farmers who haven't secured fertiliser for planting and Australian farmers facing quadrupled urea prices compared to pre-pandemic levels.
• Climate predictions of El Niño events in 2026-2027 suggest hotter, drier conditions that will further reduce crop yields, while experts warn that governments and markets have yet to fully grasp the impending food security risks.
• UK farming leaders stress the urgent need to build a resilient agricultural sector by addressing import dependencies and investment barriers, framing food security as a critical national security issue.