Netherlands Food Partnership | Laura Birkman on the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz for global food security
As tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, concerns are growing over the wider implications for global food security. During a recent Netherlands Food Partnership session, experts warned that the crisis could trigger cascading effects across energy, fertiliser, and food systems. Laura Birkman of HCSS highlighted how the Strait functions as a “cascading chokepoint,” where disruptions disproportionately affect countries already facing water scarcity, import dependence, and food insecurity. Her contribution underscored the need to view food security not in isolation, but as deeply connected to energy, trade, climate, and geopolitical resilience.