Image for representation purposes only FAO Director General Qu Dongyu expressed concerns that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to global food shortages and food insecurity in conflict-ridden countries. He called for the U.S. and Iran to take appropriate measures and reopen the critical maritime chokepoint, which handles a significant volume of oil and natural gas shipments. Opening the 181st Session of the FAO Council in Rome, Qu emphasised the need to keep agricultural trade lanes open amidst mounting political pressure. “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is not a regional issue — it is a global food security risk,” he said. Approximately 20-30% of the global fertiliser trade and massive volumes of energy and sulphur pass through the Hormuz annually. He urged nations to come together to protect humanitarian food corridors and secure alternative logistics routes. The most pressing concern is a ‘fertiliser and production shock’ that could increase production costs for farmers across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Qu said that climate-related risks, including the El Niño event predicted to happen in late 2026, could further compound food insecurity in already vulnerable areas affected by the U.S-Iran war and economic crises. The FAO is currently carrying out humanitarian missions, including livestock vaccination programs in Sudan and supplying food and other essential goods to people in Gaza.