ROME, Italy (AFP) — The United Nation (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned Wednesday that the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could “trigger a severe global food price crisis” in the coming months.

Hormuz accounted for a fifth of global oil shipping before the United States (US) and Israel launched strikes against Iran, which prompted Tehran to effectively shut down the strait to tanker and cargo traffic.

A third of the world’s fertiliser supply also passed through the strait before the war, and officials have warned that farmers could face shortages during the summer growing season.