Trending Now - Global Food Supply at Risk Amid Severe Fuel Shortages
WHO:
Chris Bowen, Australia's Energy Minister
Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of Yara International
Yara International, one of the world’s largest fertiliser companies
UN World Food Programme
WHAT:
Bowen stated that rural and regional areas in Australia are facing “real and unacceptable shortages” of fuel.
The US-Israel war with Iran has caused global oil prices to surge.
Global food supplies could be badly damaged in 2026 if the Iran war becomes an extended conflict.
The cost of urea has increased by about $210 a tonne, rising from $487 a tonne to $700 a tonne.
A reduction of up to 50% in the first harvest of some crops, such as early potatoes, could occur if fertiliser is not available.
Production in Qatar and Iran has been reduced due to the war.
Some governments in Asia have ordered rationing of gas.
WHERE:
Australia’s rural and regional areas
Gulf region, including Qatar and Iran
Europe, Asia, and vulnerable countries in Africa
WHEN:
The war started two weeks prior to March 14th, 2026.
Yara International was established in Norway in 1905.
WHY:
The fuel shortages are a ripple effect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The war has caused a "double impact" on the fertiliser industry: supplies of raw materials being choked off and soaring gas prices.
Rising food and fuel prices driven by the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East could worsen hunger for vulnerable populations.
HOW:
The energy supply crunch is impacting farmers across Asia and Europe, leading to a scarcity of fuel needed to operate essential machinery.
The fertiliser industry is affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the increase in gas prices, which directly impacts the cost of producing fertiliser.
Farmers across Asia and Europe are facing a scarcity of fuel needed to operate essential machinery due to the energy supply crunch caused by the war.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 21:00 UTC)
Australia's Energy Minister Chris Bowen has announced that rural and regional areas are experiencing "real and unacceptable shortages" of fuel. This crisis is a direct result of the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, which has caused global oil prices to surge, creating a ripple effect that is impacting farmers across Asia and Europe. As a result, essential machinery needed for agricultural operations is facing a scarcity of fuel.
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(UPDATED March 14, 2026 19:10 UTC)
Today, Svein Tore Holsether, the chief executive of Yara International, warned that global food supplies could face severe damage in 2026 if the ongoing conflict in Iran continues to escalate. The war has already led to a significant increase in the cost of urea, rising from $487 to $700 a tonne, and could result in a reduction of up to 50% in the first harvest of some crops like early potatoes, particularly affecting farmers in Europe, Asia, and vulnerable countries in Africa. With production in Qatar and Iran disrupted and some Asian governments implementing gas rationing, the fertiliser industry is grappling with a "double impact" of supply shortages and soaring prices, which threatens to worsen hunger for those most in need.