During the 180th session of the FAO Council in Rome, the organization’s Director-General, Qu Dongyu, addressed the impact of the conflict on agri-food systems, a situation exacerbated by the war on Iran, launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.

Qu affirmed in his address that “peace and stability are indispensable requirements for food security, and the right to food is a fundamental human right.”

The FAO chief stated that the closure of key maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, due to the armed conflict, “is generating serious repercussions for global agri-food systems, causing significant disruptions in the global supply of energy, fertilizers, and agricultural inputs.”

He noted that the Strait is a crucial strategic corridor that, under normal conditions, carries approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day, representing one-quarter of the global seaborne oil trade, as well as significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and vital fertilizers.

Qu warned that the fertilizer market is experiencing immediate disruptions, jeopardizing agricultural productivity.

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