The United Nations has warned that parts of Africa and Asia could face a serious food security crisis as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten global fertiliser supplies.
A senior UN official said urgent agreement between Iran and the United States is needed to allow fertiliser shipments through the strategic waterway before the next planting season.
According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, UN Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva warned on Wednesday, October 14, that delays could reduce agricultural production and push food prices higher.
The warning comes as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to disrupt shipping through one of the world’s most important trade routes.
UN warns Africa faces fertiliser shortages
Moreira da Silva said a UN-backed proposal to facilitate fertiliser shipments through the Strait of Hormuz must receive approval within weeks.
The proposal aims to protect supplies needed by farmers preparing for the next planting season.
Agricultural production depends on timely access to fertilisers, particularly for crops that require nutrients at specific stages of growth.
Delays in deliveries could prevent farmers from applying fertilisers when needed.
This could reduce crop yields and increase pressure on food prices.
Speaking to Reuters during International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, Moreira da Silva warned that missing the planting season could significantly reduce agricultural productivity.
The consequences could be particularly serious for countries already facing food insecurity, climate pressures or economic difficulties.
Strait of Hormuz disruption affects global fertiliser trade
The Strait of Hormuz has experienced major shipping disruptions since the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran.
Iranian attacks on vessels and exchanges of fire involving Iranian and US forces have affected maritime traffic in and around the waterway.
The disruption has restricted shipments of important agricultural inputs, including urea and sulphur.
Urea is the world’s most widely used nitrogen fertiliser and plays a major role in crop production.
Sulphur is also essential for manufacturing several fertiliser products.
Before the conflict, approximately one-third of global urea shipments passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway also handled nearly half of the world’s seaborne sulphur trade.
Although some commercial vessels continue to pass through, fertiliser shipments remain extremely limited.
According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, fertiliser products account for only a negligible share of cargo currently moving through the strait.
UN proposes monitored shipping mechanism
The United Nations has developed a mechanism designed to allow fertiliser shipments to reach countries facing critical supply shortages.
The proposal, prepared in March, would establish a UN-staffed coordination centre in Oman.
The centre would register vessels and coordinate their safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
UN monitors would also work with local authorities at Gulf ports to verify cargo loading.
Ships would be tracked during their journeys, while additional inspections could take place if concerns arose about specific vessels or shipments.
Moreira da Silva said the system could become operational within seven to ten days once Iran and the United States approve it.
He added that allowing just five vessels carrying fertiliser to pass through the waterway each day could help maintain supplies to countries facing urgent needs.
However, neither country has yet agreed to activate the mechanism.
Iran and US negotiations remain stalled
The proposed fertiliser arrangement comes amid wider negotiations over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals through intermediaries since an interim ceasefire collapsed in June.
However, discussions over restoring freedom of navigation have made limited progress.
The negotiations remain complicated by disagreements over Iran’s conditions and Washington’s insistence on addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Moreira da Silva said the humanitarian shipping mechanism could operate while broader diplomatic discussions continue.
The UN official argued that fertiliser shipments should not have to wait for a comprehensive political agreement.
The proposal seeks to separate urgent agricultural supply needs from the wider dispute over the waterway.
African food security concerns grow
The disruption could have serious implications for African countries that depend on imported fertilisers to support agricultural production.
Higher fertiliser prices can increase farming costs and make agricultural inputs less affordable for small-scale producers.
Farmers who reduce fertiliser use because of shortages or rising prices may experience lower crop yields.
These pressures could eventually affect food availability and household spending.
In May, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned that fertiliser shortages could tighten global food supplies from late 2026 into 2027.
The organisation cautioned that countries already dealing with climate-related disasters and other crises could face particularly severe consequences.
However, the extent of the impact will depend on how long shipping disruptions continue and whether alternative supply routes can meet demand.
UN calls for urgent agreement to protect food supplies
The United Nations is urging Iran and the United States to reach an agreement before agricultural planting schedules are disrupted further.
Moreira da Silva said the proposed mechanism could help maintain essential fertiliser supplies while negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz continue.
The warning highlights how conflict in a major shipping corridor can affect agricultural production far beyond the immediate region.
For African countries already facing high food prices and agricultural challenges, continued disruption could create additional economic and humanitarian pressures.
A timely agreement could help reduce the risk of fertiliser shortages developing into a wider food security crisis.