Apprehensions of a Global Food Crisis Arising from the Iran War

26-Mar-2026 08:17 PM

São Paulo. International observers believe that if the conflict between Iran and Israel persists for an extended period, it could trigger a severe global food crisis. The underlying reason is that many nations would face inadequate supplies of chemical fertilizers, potentially leading to a drastic decline in agricultural production within those regions.

Due to the crisis in West Asia, global market prices for fertilizers are skyrocketing, and shipping costs are also on the rise. This situation could have a profound impact on agricultural production in Asian countries.

An analyst from Brazil notes that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a primary component in the manufacture of urea; however, current supplies are falling significantly short of demand. The Iran-Israel conflict must be resolved swiftly to ensure the smooth flow of maritime traffic and to allow shipping costs to return to normal levels.

If the conflict between Iran and Israel continues through the end of April, it could have a severely adverse impact on the sowing of agricultural crops across Europe and North America. In numerous countries—including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—the sowing season typically commences in April.

As a result of this crisis, many nations will be compelled to formulate long-term policies and actively seek out new trade partners. India, in particular, will need to boost its domestic production of chemical fertilizers and devise a specific strategy to achieve this objective.