The Price of Bread
New York Times
N
New York Times
Original Source
The world's wheat-producing regions face mounting pressure from the Iran war, climate disasters, and trade disputes, pushing the global food system toward dangerous territory. Rising fertilizer costs and transport disruptions threaten agricultural output at a time when food prices are already dangerously high.
The Price of Bread - The New York Times
Skip to contentSkip to site index
World
Today’s Paper
World
|
The Price of Bread
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/23/world/wheat-price-iran-war-canada.html
*
*
*
*
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Newsletter The WorldThe Price of Bread
War, climate shocks and trade disputes are pounding the world’s breadbaskets and pushing the global food system into dangerous territory.
Listen · 11:36 min
*
*
*
*
By
Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer
I’m the editor of The World.
Published Aug. 23, 2026
Updated Aug. 24, 2026, 1:53 a.m. ET
See more of our coverage in your search results. Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The New York Times on Google Agrega The New York Times en Google
Katrin is away this week; I’ll be your host. We’re going to start the week by looking at the trouble in the world’s breadbaskets.
One of the most ominous facets of the war in Iran has been the effect on fertilizer prices. Thanks to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, they shot up at exactly the wrong time — during the spring planting season in the Northern Hemisphere. The consequences are still playing out, but they will come at a time when the world is already facing high food prices.
Today, my colleague Somini Sengupta writes about that all-important staple: wheat.
Image
!Aerial view of a golden-brown field. Two farm machines, a combine and tractor, move through rows, kicking up dust.
*A combine harvester in Seeluebbe, Germany, this month.
Credit...
Lisi Niesner/Reuters*
Drone strikes and devilish weather
By Somini Sengupta
Instant noodles. Hot chapatis. Sliced bread. Wheat is at the heart of the modern diet. But this year, the breadbaskets of the world are in trouble.
Heat and drought have diminished harvests in some of the biggest wheat-producing countries. What little wheat is being harvested is now more expensive to transport, thanks to war and weather.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit andlog intoyour Times account, orsubscribefor all of The Times.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber?Log in.
Want all of The Times?Subscribe.
Related Content
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Site Index
Site Information Navigation
* ©2026 The New York Times Company
* NYTCo
* Contact Us
* Accessibility
* Work with us
* Advertise
* T Brand Studio
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Policy
* Terms of Service
* Terms of Sale
* Site Map
* Canada
* International
* Help
* Subscriptions
* Manage Privacy Preferences
Skip to contentSkip to site index
World
Today’s Paper
World
|
The Price of Bread
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/23/world/wheat-price-iran-war-canada.html
*
*
*
*
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Newsletter The WorldThe Price of Bread
War, climate shocks and trade disputes are pounding the world’s breadbaskets and pushing the global food system into dangerous territory.
Listen · 11:36 min
*
*
*
*
By
Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer
I’m the editor of The World.
Published Aug. 23, 2026
Updated Aug. 24, 2026, 1:53 a.m. ET
See more of our coverage in your search results. Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The New York Times on Google Agrega The New York Times en Google
Katrin is away this week; I’ll be your host. We’re going to start the week by looking at the trouble in the world’s breadbaskets.
One of the most ominous facets of the war in Iran has been the effect on fertilizer prices. Thanks to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, they shot up at exactly the wrong time — during the spring planting season in the Northern Hemisphere. The consequences are still playing out, but they will come at a time when the world is already facing high food prices.
Today, my colleague Somini Sengupta writes about that all-important staple: wheat.
Image
!Aerial view of a golden-brown field. Two farm machines, a combine and tractor, move through rows, kicking up dust.
*A combine harvester in Seeluebbe, Germany, this month.
Credit...
Lisi Niesner/Reuters*
Drone strikes and devilish weather
By Somini Sengupta
Instant noodles. Hot chapatis. Sliced bread. Wheat is at the heart of the modern diet. But this year, the breadbaskets of the world are in trouble.
Heat and drought have diminished harvests in some of the biggest wheat-producing countries. What little wheat is being harvested is now more expensive to transport, thanks to war and weather.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit andlog intoyour Times account, orsubscribefor all of The Times.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber?Log in.
Want all of The Times?Subscribe.
Related Content
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Site Index
Site Information Navigation
* ©2026 The New York Times Company
* NYTCo
* Contact Us
* Accessibility
* Work with us
* Advertise
* T Brand Studio
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Policy
* Terms of Service
* Terms of Sale
* Site Map
* Canada
* International
* Help
* Subscriptions
* Manage Privacy Preferences
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#أزمة غذائية#القمح#الحرب في إيران#تغير المناخ#الأسعار العالمية#الأمن الغذائي
Source: New York Times
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments
