Warnings that Iran war risks global food crisis

About this episode

The episode discusses the potential global food crisis due to the war in Iran and its impact on fertilizer supply.

The head of one of the world's biggest fertiliser manufacturers has warned that the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz - as a result of the war on Iran - could cost the world up to ten billion meals a week. Svein Holsether, who runs Yara, said farmers in the poorest countries would be hit first by the interruption to production and supply caused by the ongoing hostilities. We hear from two countries particularly affected by the shortage in industrial fertiliser. Also in the programme: despair then relief for the Oscar winner who thought an airline had lost his award; and for the first time the nose of a mouse has been mapped showing us more about the way mammals smell. (Photo: Farmers in Aceh labour amid possible fertilizer shortage due to war in Middle East. Indonesia, 28 March 2026. Credit 2026 Shutterstock Editorial. EPA/Shutterstock )

People in this episode

Guest: Svein Holsether

Topics covered

• Iran war
• global food crisis
• fertilizer shortage
• agriculture impact
• Oscar winner
• mammal olfaction

Keywords

• Iran
• food crisis
• fertilizer
• Yara
• Svein Holsether
• Strait of Hormuz
• agriculture
• Oscar winner
• mouse nose mapping

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yara

Places: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Aceh, Indonesia

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