In 2026, the world does not have enough fertilizer. This is a serious problem for farmers and shoppers everywhere. Yara, one of the world's biggest fertilizer companies, has warned that this shortage could affect billions of meals worldwide.
Fertilizer is something that farmers add to soil. It helps plants grow bigger and faster. Most fertilizers contain nitrogen and other nutrients. Without enough fertilizer, farms produce less rice, less wheat, and fewer vegetables. For many years, farmers in Asia and South America have bought fertilizer from large producers to keep their harvests strong.
Now that system has a problem. Supply from one key producing region has been disrupted. When fertilizer is hard to find, its price goes up. When the price goes up, farmers pay more or use less. If they use less, harvests get smaller and food becomes more expensive in shops.
In South Korea, prices for rice, cabbage, onions, and bread have already gone up sharply in 2026. A global shortage makes this worse, because Korean farms and countries that send food to Korea all need the same fertilizer.
The pattern is simple. Less fertilizer means smaller harvests. Smaller harvests mean less food. Less food means higher prices. This does not stop at the farm. The higher cost moves through food companies and shops before it reaches your kitchen.
Yara's warning is important. The company's chief executive said harvests could fall in many countries. Governments and food companies are listening carefully. Experts say that when only a few countries supply most of the world's fertilizer, even a small problem can raise global prices very quickly.