Iran conflict threatens global food crisis beyond energy shortages

The ongoing conflict in Iran, including Operation Epic Fury and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, risks triggering a severe food crisis that extends beyond energy disruptions. While global media focuses on oil and gas trade interruptions, experts warn that food insecurity is equally critical. Adam Hanieh of the School of Oriental and African Studies, writing in the Financial Times, notes that since the 1950s green revolution, mechanized farming, pumped irrigation, and synthetic fertilizers have inextricably linked energy security to food security. He warns that after just seven weeks, millions in vulnerable African and Asian countries face food shortages and potential famine. The World Bank and IMF annual meetings highlighted these risks, with a joint statement cautioning that the Gulf conflict could upend lives and livelihoods regionally and beyond. India has already raised fertilizer subsidies by 11 percent to support its agriculture sector amid Middle East tensions. The author, dining at the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club, contrasts personal comfort with the looming global crisis.