UN Warns Fertiliser Delays Could Deepen Food Crisis in Asia and Africa

A senior United Nations official has warned that parts of Asia and Africa could face a food security crisis unless Iran and the United States quickly approve a plan to move fertiliser through the Strait of Hormuz.

UN Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva said an agreement was needed within weeks, before farmers begin key planting seasons. He described the timing as “absolutely critical” and warned that missing the season could reduce agricultural output and push prices higher.

“If we miss that planting season, the productivity of agriculture would significantly drop and the impact on prices will significantly increase,” Moreira da Silva told Reuters.

Proposed transit system

The UN-backed proposal would establish a coordination centre in Oman staffed by the organisation. The centre would register vessels and oversee their safe passage through the waterway.

Under the plan, UN monitors would work with local authorities at Gulf ports to confirm cargo loading, track ships while they are in transit and potentially conduct further inspections.

Moreira da Silva said the arrangement could be activated within seven to 10 days after Iran and the United States reach an agreement. He also said that allowing five vessels a day to pass through the strait could maintain fertiliser supplies to countries facing the most urgent need.

The proposed mechanism could operate alongside wider negotiations aimed at restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. “What we are telling them is, while you continue your discussions towards a comprehensive deal, let us work, let us do our job,” Moreira da Silva said.

Disrupted fertiliser supplies

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. The disruption has affected supplies of urea and seaborne sulphur, both important fertiliser inputs.

Before the war, roughly one-third of global urea shipments and nearly half of seaborne sulphur passed through the strait, according to information reported in the source material. Urea is the world’s most widely used nitrogen fertiliser, while sulphur is a key input used in fertiliser production.

The International Food Policy Research Institute said fertiliser products represented a “very negligible” share of the cargo moving through the strait during the crisis. However, the interruption has contributed to scarcity and higher costs for farmers.

Farmers in South Asia have been struggling with soaring expenses and limited fertiliser availability. In Spain, farmers have also protested against rising production costs amid high oil and fertiliser prices.

Broader food security concerns

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned in May that fertiliser shortages could tighten food supplies from late 2026 into 2027. Countries already dealing with climate-related or other crises could face the greatest impact.

Farmers follow strict crop calendars, and the source material says even short delays in obtaining fertiliser could seriously affect yields. Most people in South Asia rely on imported fertiliser, increasing the region’s exposure to supply disruptions.

Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals through intermediaries since an interim ceasefire collapsed in June, but efforts to reopen the strait have stalled. The negotiations have faced disagreements over Tehran’s conditions and Washington’s insistence on addressing Iran’s nuclear programme from the beginning.

No agreement on the proposed fertiliser mechanism had been reached at the time of the report. The possible food crisis, reductions in agricultural productivity and price increases remain potential consequences rather than confirmed outcomes.