FAO warns of global food crisis

The Food and Agriculture Organization>>> (FAO) has issued a severe warning that the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz>>> is no longer a temporary shipping disruption but the beginning of a systemic agrifood shock. This could trigger a severe global food price crisis within six to 12 months if alternative trade routes are not explored and export restrictions are avoided. The crisis is unfolding in stages, affecting energy, fertilizer, seeds, yields, and commodity prices, leading to food inflation. The FAO_Food_Price_Index has already risen for three consecutive months. Máximo Torero Cullen>>>, FAO's Chief Economist, and David Laborde>>>, Director of FAO's Agrifood Economics Division, emphasized the urgency of preventive action, including securing alternative land and sea routes, avoiding export restrictions, and implementing social protection programs. The situation could worsen with the onset of El Niño–Southern Oscillation>>>. Other organizations like the World Food Programme>>> and International Rice Research Institute>>> have echoed these concerns, highlighting the humanitarian and fertilizer market impacts. The International Energy Agency>>> is also tracking policy responses to energy market disruptions.