How the Iran war could shatter global food security

Officials across the world are warning that rising energy, shipping and fertilizer costs could push tens of millions into acute hunger if the war drags on.

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could trigger a new food price shock pushing tens of millions into acute hunger if it drags on, officials across the world are warning.

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Rising energy, shipping and fertilizer costs fueled by Tehran's stranglehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz trade route are already being felt in the United States, but the sharpest consequences are expected to fall on poorer, import-dependent countries unable to absorb the higher costs.

Thousands of miles from the Middle East, in Brazil, South Asia and East Africa, even small increases in the price of growing and transporting food can deepen hunger and strain already fragile food systems, where millions are already struggling to afford basic staples.