FAO sees risk of shock to fertilizers and agricultural production
The director-general of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), Qu Dongyu, stated that the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz represents a risk to global food security, especially due to the possible impacts on the supply of fertilizers and agricultural inputs.
According to Qu, the strait is a strategic route for international trade. Approximately 35% of global crude oil exports, 20% of LNG (liquefied natural gas) exports, between 20% and 30% of global fertilizer exports and around 50% of global sulfur exports pass through the region.
"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not a regional issue, it is a global risk to food security", he stated during the organization's Council Session.
According to the director general, the main impact of the crisis would not be an immediate shortage of food, but a shock related to fertilizers and agricultural production. With the crisis reaching the 100-day mark, farmers in Asia, Africa and Latin America are already facing rising production costs and more complex decisions about fertilizer use and crop planning.
Faced with this scenario, FAO presented a set of short, medium and long-term recommendations. Among the immediate measures are maintaining the openness of international trade, not adopting restrictions on exports of agricultural inputs, protecting humanitarian corridors for food and searching for alternative logistical routes.
The organization also reported that it is expanding initiatives aimed at more efficient use of fertilizers, including soil mapping, precision agriculture and intercropping systems to reduce dependence on nitrogen fertilizers. In addition, it works to create funds for the development of alternatives such as green ammonia and biofertilizers.
Qu also warned of possible climate risks associated with the El Niño phenomenon later this year, which could affect agricultural production in countries already subject to food crises.
Resources for emergencies
During the speech, the director-general presented an update on the Global Emergency and Resilience Appeal, launched by FAO in December 2025 with the aim of reaching 100 million people by 2026.
By the end of May this year, the initiative had received US$206 million of the US$2.5 billion considered necessary, equivalent to around 8% of the financial target.
"While the resources received are making a difference, they also remind us of the scale of the challenge that lies ahead," he declared.
FAO highlighted actions carried out in areas affected by conflicts and food insecurity. In Sudan, the organization and its partners vaccinated more than 6.2 million animals in 17 states, benefiting approximately 1.9 million people. In Gaza, the emergency supply of feed to more than 2,200 breeders allowed the maintenance of herds and the continuity of food production, according to the entity.
Despite the global appeal's resource deficit, FAO reported having mobilized US$564 million in voluntary contributions by the end of May, an amount around 4% higher than that recorded in the same period of the previous year.
International cooperation
Qu also highlighted the support received from international financial institutions and funds focused on climate and the environment. According to him, the partnership between FAO and the Global Fund for the Environment reached the US$2 billion mark in financing in December 2025.
The director general also highlighted the adherence of more than 77 countries to the Global Partnership Program for Transboundary Animal Diseases, an initiative aimed at preventing and controlling diseases that affect agricultural production.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, priorities include preserving recent advances in reducing hunger, as well as addressing the high costs of healthy diets and rural poverty.
At the end of his speech, Qu reinforced the need to strengthen the capacity to anticipate and respond to crises in a scenario marked by conflicts, climate events and global economic challenges.
Source: CNN