Rome Coalition formed to secure fertilizer supplies

In a direct response to the escalating maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a high-level ministerial meeting at the Farnesina (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) has resulted in the official launch of the “Rome Coalition.” This international initiative aims to safeguard global food security and ensure the stable flow of fertilizers, which are currently under threat due to regional instability.

The coalition—spearheaded by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and co-chaired by Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić-Radman—brings together approximately 40 nations and organizations, including the MED9 group, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the Arab League.

Minister Tajani emphasized that the coalition is designed to provide “concrete answers” to the supply chain disruptions affecting both African populations in need and European domestic agriculture. A permanent working group has been established to monitor the situation in the Strait of Hormuz “minute-by-minute,” ensuring that once logistical corridors are secured, essential agricultural inputs can reach global markets without delay.

The urgency of the coalition’s mission was underscored by QU Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO, who issued a stark warning regarding the biological reality of farming.

“Agriculture follows a planting calendar that cannot be postponed,” Qu stated. “Fertilizers must be distributed at precise moments. If they do not arrive on time, crops suffer, regardless of what happens later.”

The FAO projects that the current scarcity will lead to a significant contraction in food availability throughout the second half of 2026 and into 2027. This “geopolitical shock” is expected to hit import-dependent regions in Africa and Asia hardest, where economic fragility and climate change already threaten stability.

The formation of the coalition has been met with strong support from key industrial stakeholders who are navigating the double-edged sword of rising energy and input costs.

Giuseppe Romanini, President of the OI Pomodoro Nord, highlighted the specific risks facing the Mediterranean supply chain:

“As President of the Interbranch Organization of processing tomato of Northern Italy, I express appreciation for the announced establishment of the ‘Rome Coalition’ for access to fertilizers and food security. At a stage marked by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which are causing a sharp increase in the costs of fertilizers and energy, it is essential to strengthen international coordination to protect global food production, trade in agricultural inputs and access to food.

For the processing tomato sector, these price increases represent a concrete risk to the economic sustainability of agricultural and industrial companies, already subjected to strong pressures on production costs. We therefore welcome every initiative aimed at guaranteeing continuity in supplies, market stability and food security, essential elements for defending the competitiveness of the European agri-food and the income of companies in the supply chain.”

The “Rome Coalition” represents a pivotal shift toward proactive diplomacy in the agrifood sector. By linking the geopolitical stability of the Strait of Hormuz directly to the economic viability of European processing sectors—like the tomato industry—the initiative seeks to mitigate a multi-year food crisis before the 2027 harvest yields are permanently compromised.

Sources: Agrisole, OI Pomodoro Nord