Food security expert Dr. Fadel ELZUBI told Al-Rai that the repercussions of the ongoing war in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are no longer confined to the energy sector, but have extended to the fertilizer industry, which forms the backbone of global food production.

He emphasized that these challenges should serve as a driver for adopting more sustainable agricultural practices, such as using organic fertilizers like manure and compost, applying environmentally smart farming techniques including crop rotation and intercropping, and expanding the cultivation of nitrogen-fixing plants.

ELZUBI explained that such solutions reduce dependence on imported fertilizers, enhance biodiversity, and improve food quality, thereby supporting the long-term independence of the agricultural sector.

He noted that the disruption of natural gas supplies—accounting for about 70% of fertilizer production inputs—has led to the shutdown of major factories and a global surge of more than 40% in urea and ammonia prices. This, he warned, directly impacts Jordan’s food security given its heavy reliance on imports.

ELZUBI added that any disruption in global supplies immediately translates into higher local production costs and increased pressure on the national budget. Rising fertilizer prices, he concluded, inevitably raise agricultural production costs, which in turn drive up the prices of wheat and food worldwide.