Cooper Urges Fertiliser Flows Within Weeks as Hormuz Closure Risks 45 Million More Hungry
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 19
Cooper Urges Fertiliser Flows Within Weeks as Hormuz Closure Risks 45 Million More Hungry
11 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 19
Weeks remain to free fertiliser supplies, Yvette Cooper said, warning spring planting delays are already hurting harvests in the UK, Europe and the US and could trigger a wider food crisis.
Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has frozen fertiliser shipments at the key northern-hemisphere planting window, pushing up prices and hitting developing-world farmers hardest because many cannot afford the higher costs.
45 million more people could fall into acute food insecurity if the Iran conflict lasts beyond mid-2026, according to the World Food Programme, adding urgency to calls to reopen the waterway.
At a London development conference, the UK is pairing that warning with funding pledges including £4.6 billion for climate investment, £200 million for science and technology, and new health support for Gaza's injured children.
The push comes as rich-country aid budgets shrink: the UK has cut aid to 0.3% of GNI and the Trump administration has dismantled USAID, raising pressure to use private-sector partnerships to fill gaps.
As Iran chokes global trade, is a wider war the only way to avert a worldwide food crisis?
Beyond the Strait of Hormuz, are there realistic options to secure global food and energy supplies now?
2026 Food Crisis: Strait of Hormuz Closure Pushes 45 Million Toward Hunger Amid Surging Energy and Fertilizer Costs
Overview
The ongoing US-Israel war with Iran has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route. This action has caused major disruptions in aid and trade, leaving essential goods like wheat and canned food stuck in transit. As a result, international partners and the United Nations are urgently calling for the Strait to reopen, warning of severe economic and humanitarian consequences. The crisis is driving up energy and food prices worldwide, threatening food security, especially in vulnerable regions. The situation highlights how conflict in one area can quickly create global challenges for trade, hunger, and stability.