The escalation of conflict in the Persian Gulf trigged ripple effects across global agriculture, exposing the vulnerability of food systems that rely heavily on imported energy, fertilisers and feedstocks.
Dr Himanshu Pathak said that the conflict highlighted “a deeper issue in that global agriculture still depends far too heavily on external inputs and a handful of concentrated supply chains.”
He cited India as an example of a nation that has been highly exposed to the shocks because of their reliance on imported farm inputs.
“Potash is almost entirely imported, around 90 per cent of fertilizer raw materials come from abroad, and edible oil dependence remains above 50 per cent.”
He added that similar vulnerabilities are seen places such as Kenya, Malawi, and Niger.
He advocated for nations to build resilience by building systems that were “diversified, resource efficient, and locally grounded”
‘A clear and immediate pathway’
Against this backdrop, Pathak advocated for crop diversification as a practical move towards resilience.
He pointed to pulses, oilseeds and millets as crops that can reduce reliance on imported fertilisers and energy, particularly when compared with input‑intensive staples such as wheat and rice.
“Importantly, these crops support a transition toward more balanced production systems that are better aligned with both environmental conditions and economic realities,” said Pathak.
Pulses improve soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. Oilseeds play a crucial role in cutting edible oil import dependence and stabilising food prices in countries with chronic domestic deficits.
Scaling diversification will require stronger policy support, said Pathak.
“Expanding market incentives for farmers to grow low-input, nutritious crops such as pulses and oilseeds would increase adoption and lower costs over time.”
Building resilience
Additionally, current disruptions in the fertiliser market underscore the importance of improving input use efficiency towards precision-based management.
“ICRISAT’s work in Ethiopia demonstrates how targeted fertiliser advisory systems, built on soil data and digital tools, can guide farmers toward more efficient nutrient use. These approaches help maintain productivity while reducing costs and environmental impact,” said Pathak.
Furthermore, strengthening local processing, storage and value addition for diversified crops can further reduce exposure to international shocks while creating new income opportunities.
“Stronger local value chains ensure that gains in production translate into real economic resilience,” said Pathak.
The crisis also highlights the importance of timely data, market monitoring and early warning systems, which allow governments and farmers to respond proactively to changing conditions and manage risk more effectively.
“Across all these areas, innovation remains central. ICRISAT’s work on climate resilient crop varieties, digital advisory systems, and integrated farming approaches offers practical solutions that can be deployed at scale. These innovations support farmers in managing risk, optimising resources, and adapting to rapidly changing conditions,” said Pathak.
He underscored that with climate pressures, geopolitics and food systems become increasingly intertwined, building resilience was no longer optional.
“Against this backdrop resilience becomes a foundational principle for agricultural development and is at the core of what ICRISAT aims to achieve through its frontier science for the drylands… If we act on what we already know, agriculture, and especially dryland agriculture can move beyond vulnerability and become a source of stability in an increasingly uncertain world.”
