Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has warned that the world is “sleepwalking into a global food crisis” unless fertiliser supplies are freed up within weeks. The conflict in Iran has blocked shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up prices and threatening harvests in the UK, Europe, and the US, with the worst impacts felt in developing nations.
“We cannot risk tens of millions of people going hungry because one country has hijacked an international shipping lane,” Cooper said. Spring planting is critical; if northern hemisphere farmers cannot secure fertiliser now, the damage will persist for the next year. She called for urgent global pressure to reopen the strait and restore the flow of fertiliser and fuel.
Cooper spoke ahead of the Global Partnerships conference in London, co-hosted by the UK and South Africa. The event aims to foster new collaborations between governments, private investors, and civil society to address development challenges. The World Food Programme estimates that nearly 45 million more people could face acute food insecurity if the Iran conflict continues beyond mid-year.
The UK has cut overseas aid to 0.3% of gross national income, down from 0.5% under the previous government. Cooper argued that aid is in the UK’s national interest, stating, “Instability abroad affects us here at home, from energy prices to food security.” Meanwhile, climate finance has been reduced to £2bn annually over the next three years.
At the conference, British International Investment will announce £4.6bn for climate investment in emerging markets. Cooper will also unveil a new health partnership for children injured in Gaza and a £200m investment in science and technology. The UK is set to assume the presidency of the G20.
