Tehran – The ongoing US military adventures in the Strait of Hormuz have forced British farmers to abandon chemical fertilizers in favor of seaweed, a dramatic shift that environmental experts warn could introduce severe ecological problems, according to a report.

 

The move comes after soaring prices for imported fertilizers, triggered by regional tensions in the Persian Gulf, made conventional farming inputs unaffordable for many UK growers, the report said.

 

A spokesperson for the National Farmers' Union of Britain confirmed that the seaweed method has been officially introduced to members as a substitute for chemical fertilizers.

 

“The crisis stems from shipping interruptions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US and Israeli conflict with Iran. According to the United Nations, one-third of the world's imported fertilizer passes through this strategic waterway. With global prices surging by up to 70 percent, shortages of urea, potash, and phosphorus have reportedly wiped out the equivalent of 10 billion meals' worth of potential food production in a single week.”

 

In response, British farmers are now harvesting seaweed from the North Sea and spreading it across their fields using drones — a costly and logistically intensive operation. However, environmental experts have sharply criticized the practice, citing unknown long-term ecological consequences. Moreover, the impact of seaweed on actual crop yields remains unproven.

 

"Hormuz is still in Iran's hands," the report concludes. "Countries will have to find alternative solutions to the energy and fertilizer crisis. There's a famous saying: 'Don't play with the lion's tail.'"