Risk of global food shortage from Iran War

Risk of global food shortage from Iran War

From dc by Salai Dawtcemsang

May 1, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential global food shortage caused by the war in Iran and its impact on fertiliser supplies.

The interruption to supplies of fertiliser and its key ingredients due to the war in Iran could cost up to 10 billion meals a week globally and will hit poorest countries hardest, according to the boss of one of the world's biggest fertiliser producers. Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of Yara, told the BBC that hostilities in the Gulf, which have blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, are jeopardising global food production.Also in the programme: Ukraine has been stepping up its campaign against Russia's oil industry; and is fish fraud affecting one of Britain's national dishes?(Picture: Workers carry fertiliser bags to be mixed with water at a farm's irrigation centre. Credit: REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo)

People in this episode

Host: Salai Dawtcemsang

Topics covered

  • global food shortage
  • fertiliser supply
  • Iran War
  • Ukraine campaign
  • oil industry
  • fish fraud

Keywords

  • food shortage
  • fertiliser
  • Iran War
  • Ukraine
  • oil industry
  • fish fraud
  • global production

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yara

Places: Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Gulf, Strait of Hormuz

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