UN warns fertilizer bottleneck in Strait of Hormuz could trigger food crisis in Asia and Africa

Jorge Moreira da Silva, head of a UN task force on the Strait of Hormuz, warned that a deal to move fertilizer through the waterway is urgently needed. Gulf fertilizer supplies are crucial to many countries, especially in Africa and South Asia. If ships cannot pass safely, farmers may miss planting windows running through May, reducing harvests and pushing food prices higher. The UN has proposed monitoring cargoes and tracking vessels to enable safe transit, but Moreira da Silva said a political agreement is still needed