- The Iran War threatens a global food crisis by disrupting fertilizer supply, as modern farming depends on cheap nitrogen fertilizer produced via the Haber-Bosch process using natural gas.
- The conflict cut off 17% of global natural gas supply and over 30% of nitrogen fertilizer supply, with ships trapped in the Gulf and fertilizer plants shut down or damaged.
- Fertilizer prices spiked during planting seasons in India, the U.S., and Australia, causing reduced crop yields and financial strain for farmers, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa and Brazil.
- The Green Revolution of the 1960s-70s, which relied on fertilizer, dramatically increased crop yields and saved billions from starvation, but current disruptions threaten to reverse these gains.
- Extreme summer heat from El Niño weather patterns compounds the crisis, potentially leading to drought, crop damage, and food export restrictions, keeping food prices high for vulnerable populations.