The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that a prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, through which a large share of the world's energy and agricultural goods pass) could trigger a global food catastrophe. Iran brought traffic through the strait to a near-halt following a US-Israeli military campaign launched against Tehran in late February, disrupting shipments of fertilisers and other critical agricultural inputs that account for 20 to 45 percent of global supply passing through the route. FAO economists cautioned that while existing food stocks are currently buffering prices, continued disruption will drive up commodity and retail food costs later in 2026 and into 2027, with the poorest countries facing the gravest consequences.