Global Food Security Under Threat from Converging Shocks

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a warning about converging international shocks that threaten global food security. Maximo Torero, the FAO's chief economist, cited several factors contributing to this threat, including Europe's ongoing heatwave, El Niño climate pattern, and the Hormuz crisis disrupting energy and fertilizer supplies.

The heatwave has already impacted European agricultural production, with grain production in the EU declining 9.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Corn production fell by 13.8 percent, while potatoes and sunflowers saw decreases of 3 and 7 percent respectively.

The Hormuz crisis has disrupted supply chains, driving up energy and fertilizer costs that are straining agricultural production worldwide. Ukraine's grain exports have also faced renewed threats in the Black Sea.