Rising Fertilizer Costs, Climate Risks Threaten Global Food Supply
The World Bank warns that global food security is under threat due to rising fertilizer costs, geopolitical tensions, and climate change. Projections suggest a potential El Niño event could significantly reduce cereal crop production, particularly in South Asia and Africa, exacerbating food inflation in low-income nations.
Why it matters
Rising food costs and potential supply shortages threaten to increase poverty and humanitarian crises in vulnerable regions globally.
The World Bank has warned that the global food system remains vulnerable despite adequate food supplies, citing rising fertiliser costs, geopolitical tensions and increasing climate risks as major threats to food security and poverty reduction. In its June 2026 Food & Nutrition Security Update , the institution said global food supplies remain generally sufficient, but higher production costs and supply chain disruptions continue to keep food prices under pressure, while production of major cereal crops is expected to decline from the record levels recorded in 2025. According to the report, the international fertiliser market remains one of the biggest sources of concern. Fertiliser prices increased by 35 per cent during the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
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