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Learning English from the News

Upper intermediate level

Iran war puts global food production at risk, says fertiliser boss

Episode 260506 / 06 May 2026

(Photo via Getty Images)

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The story

Global food production is being threatened by an interruption to the supply of fertiliser, according to the boss of one of the world's biggest fertiliser producers. Fertiliser is something that farmers put on fields to help plants grow.

When the United States and Israel struck Iran on 28 February, the Strait of Hormuz, which is a narrow waterway between Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, effectively shut down. About one-third of the world's fertiliser trade normally passes through the strait.

Less fertiliser means less food is grown, and if there is less food available, then prices rise.

The UN World Food Programme estimates that the Middle East conflict could cause 45 million additional people to experience severe hunger in 2026.

News headlines 

Trade Zone: A perfect storm rippling across the world's food supply chains
RBC

As Iran crisis drags on, fears of global food catastrophe grow
Al Jazeera

Food price inflation still rising, as lower income households feel the squeeze, study says
Sky News

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Key words and phrases

ripple
spread and affect many places 

  • Rising fuel prices are rippling through the economy.

drag on
last a long time, perhaps longer than was expected

  • Teacher strikes dragged on for years because neither side could agree.

feel the squeeze
experience financial pressure

  • They’re feeling the squeeze since their rent went up last month.

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