Fertiliser boss says war puts 10 billion meals a week at risk

the war in iran is blocking shipping through the strait of hormuz, and that's stopping fertiliser from getting where it needs to go. svein tore holsether, ceo of yara — one of the biggest fertiliser producers — told the bbc this could cost up to 10 billion meals a week. the poorest countries will get hit hardest. holsether said half a million tons of nitrogen fertiliser aren't being produced right now because of the conflict. not applying it would cut crop yields by as much as 50% in the first season for some crops. fertiliser prices have already soared 80% since the us and israel started their war on iran. he warned of a bidding war for food between rich and poor nations. europe could handle it, he said, but the question is who they'd be buying food away from. the food and drink federation recently forecast uk food inflation could hit 10% by year end.