Perhaps the most unsettling lesson from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the gap between what we knew and how we prepared. Countries should use whatever easing of immediate pressures occurs to strengthen resilience before the next shock arrives. By Máximo Torero

Rather than designing solutions for half the farming population, agricultural researchers, policymakers, and others must consider the specific needs and preferences of women farmers in developing countries. Only then can the huge female agricultural labour force reach its potential to ensure food security and drive economic growth. By Ruth Khasaya Oniang’o and Peter Kelly

Asean should enhance efficiency of fertiliser application, increase local fertiliser production, and fortify policies on pesticides and seeds. By Paul Teng

The Middle East conflict is set to have a double-whammy impact on both Asean’s import of fertilisers, and its energy-intensive fertiliser production. The timing is critical as in the coming months, the five major crops, including rice, are being planted in Asean. By Jose Ma. Luis Montesclaros, Kayven Tan and Mely Caballero-Anthony