EARTH FUTURE ACTION
The war in Iran is now hitting the global food
system at a critical moment, during the planting season. Disruptions to
shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and rising energy costs have triggered a
sharp fertilizer shortage, threatening global crop production.
Fertilizer is essential to modern agriculture,
responsible for roughly half of global crop yields. But since the conflict
escalated, prices have surged. In the U.S., fertilizer costs have jumped from
about $350 per ton to nearly $600 in just a few months, putting major
financial pressure on farmers. Many are now scaling back use or switching to
less fertilizer-intensive crops, such as soybeans—decisions that can reduce
overall yields.
The impact is even more severe globally. Many
countries depend on fertilizer imports tied to Middle Eastern supply chains.
As shipments stall and costs rise, farmers in vulnerable regions face the risk
of lower harvests, increasing the likelihood of food shortages.
The problem is compounded by energy markets.
Fertilizer production relies heavily on natural gas, so rising fuel prices are
driving costs even higher while also disrupting manufacturing and shipping.
The result is a cascading effect: higher fertilizer
costs → lower crop yields → rising food prices. Staples like wheat, corn, and
rice are expected to become more expensive, adding pressure to global
inflation and hitting lower-income populations the hardest.
What began as a regional conflict is now a global
food risk—one that could deepen if disruptions continue through multiple
growing seasons.
The war in Iran sparks a global fertilizer shortage and threatens food prices (Action News, 3-30-26)
'The planting season is now,' but war in Iran has sparked a global fertilizer shortage (PBS, 3-27-26)
‘It’s not sustainable’: US farmers reeling as Iran war pushes fertilizer costs up (The Guardian, 3-20-26)
Fertilizer Supply Problems Put Farmers in a Tough Spot (American Farm Bureau Federation, 3-19-26)