The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a global food-security emergency.
This disruption threatens the stability of international supply chains for energy and agriculture. Because the strait serves as a critical artery for global trade, its blockage creates a domino effect that could lead to reduced harvests and widespread food-price inflation.
The FAO said this situation is not a temporary shock but the beginning of a "structural agri-food crisis." The organization projects that the world will face significant food-price spikes within the next six to 12 months [1].
The maritime chokepoint, located between Oman and Iran, is essential for the transport of energy and agricultural inputs. According to YTN reporter Han Sang-ok, 20% of global oil shipments pass through the strait [1]. Additionally, approximately one-third of worldwide fertilizer shipments rely on this passage [1].
The crisis follows recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in 2024. These geopolitical tensions have effectively severed the flow of essential commodities, specifically the fertilizers required for crop production and the fuel needed for farming operations.
Without these inputs, agricultural productivity is expected to drop globally. The FAO said that the resulting shortage of crops will likely drive food costs higher for consumers across the globe as supply chains fail to recover in the short term.
“FAO는 이번 사태를 일시적 충격이 아닌 '구조적인 농식품 위기'의 서막으로 규정했습니다.”
The intersection of energy security and food security is highlighted by this crisis. Because modern industrial agriculture depends heavily on petroleum-based fertilizers and fuel for transport, a blockage in a single maritime chokepoint like the Strait of Hormuz can translate into food shortages thousands of miles away, regardless of local farming conditions.
