ROME, April 3, 2026 (WAFA) – The Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday that global food prices rose in March to their highest level since September 2025 and could increase further if the war in the Middle East continues to drive up energy costs.

FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero said in a statement that price increases since the start of the war have been moderate, largely driven by rising oil prices, while ample global grain supplies have helped ease the impact.

He warned that if the conflict persists for more than 40 days and input costs remain high, farmers may reduce inputs, cut cultivated areas, or shift to crops less dependent on fertilizers.

“These choices will affect future harvests and determine our food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and all of next year,” he added.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks changes in a basket of globally traded food commodities, rose by 2.4 percent compared to its revised February level. It is one percent higher than a year ago but remains about 20 percent below its peak in March 2022 following the outbreak of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

M.N