The Food Crisis

The United Nations World Food Program estimates that 45 million additional people will be pushed into acute hunger as a direct result of the war in Iran. Two thirds of them are in Africa. They had no vote in Operation Epic Fury. They did not ask for this war. And they are going to pay for it with their lives.In today's episode, we go deep on the supply chain most war coverage ignores entirely: fertilizer. The modern food system runs on natural gas, not sunshine, and the Persian Gulf sits at the center of global ammonia, urea, and sulfur trade. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest urea exporter. Half of global seaborne sulfur moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Jebel Ali is the world's largest humanitarian logistics hub and the U.S. Navy's busiest foreign port.Seven weeks in, fertilizer prices are already up 26 percent. Food inflation in the UK could hit 10 percent by year's end. In Sudan, 19 million people are already in acute food insecurity.The Financial Times calls this foreseeable. We call it a choice. Stay lit.