Impact of the Israel-Iran War on Agriculture and the Global Food Crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20568125Keywords:
Food insecurity, Strait of Hormuz, Nutritional security, Supply chain disruptionAbstract
Armed conflicts have a devastating impact on food systems, forcing farmers out of their homes, damaging food infrastructure and disrupting food supply chains. These pressures have been exacerbated by the Israel–Iran War, which has raised questions about the Strait of Hormuz, through which as much as 30% of the world's fertiliser supply and 27% of traded oil flow every day. This closure had a domino effect, causing sharp rises in energy costs, dramatic increases in nitrogen fertiliser prices, and steep increases in freight costs. The farmers are struggling with a surge in input prices at crucial planting periods in Brazil, the world's biggest soybean producer, Argentina, and India. Heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip has damaged the Gaza Envelope, which has historically provided more than half of Gaza's daily caloric needs and the full daily requirements for 12 critical micronutrients. These disruptions exacerbate existing vulnerabilities such as micronutrient deficiencies for 17.3% of populations in conflict settings, and increase the likelihood of outbreaks of diseases associated with malnutrition. This article discusses the causal chain linking Middle Eastern conflicts to a global food insecurity crisis and recommends an immediate, coordinated multilateral response to safeguard vulnerable food systems, including maintaining fertiliser stockpiles, diversifying supplies, and de-escalating the conflict through diplomacy.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Chinmaya Kumar Ghosh
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