Capitals, April 5 (SANA) – Global food prices rose for a second consecutive month as the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to drive up energy and fertilizer costs, raising concerns about future crop production and increasing pressure on international food markets, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.
Higher energy costs linked to the conflict contributed to the latest increase in food prices, with the FAO Food Price Index rising 1 percent compared with the previous year. The increase reflects how geopolitical tensions are affecting production and transport costs, ultimately influencing global food prices.
David Laborde, director of agri-food economics at FAO, said the key concern lies in the conflict’s impact on energy and fertilizer markets.
“The main problem is the effect of the conflict on energy and fertilizers,” Laborde said in remarks reported by Euronews. “The cost of producing the next crops is not about what we eat today, but the food we will need tomorrow and the day after.”
Hormuz disruption risks
Laborde noted that about one-third of global fertilizer shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to roughly 20 percent of the natural gas used to produce fertilizers in importing countries.
“The longer the strait remains disrupted, the less fertilizer will be used and the fewer crops will be planted, which could lead to lower production and higher food prices,” he said.
Such disruptions pose a direct threat to global food security, particularly for countries that rely heavily on international energy and fertilizer markets to sustain agricultural production.
Current supply conditions
Despite the recent increase, Laborde said global food prices have not yet surged to the levels seen after the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, largely because global supplies remain relatively stable following strong harvest seasons in major producing regions and higher stock levels.
However, uncertainty remains high, particularly regarding fertilizer costs and climate factors such as the El Niño phenomenon, which could trigger drought conditions and further strain global food supplies.
Outlook and warnings
FAO warned that if the Middle East conflict persists, farmers may face difficult decisions about how much land to cultivate and how much fertilizer to use, potentially affecting future crop yields and global food prices.
Rising transportation and energy costs are also expected to keep pressure on food prices in Europe and other importing markets through 2026.
The organization said the recent increase in food prices highlights the vulnerability of global food supply chains to geopolitical conflicts and rising input costs, stressing the need for international cooperation to secure supplies, support farmers’ production decisions and mitigate the impact of conflicts on global food security.
Kh.A
