The production of fertiliser requires large amounts of gas, and the sharp rise in energy prices had driven up production costs, Svein Tore Holsether, CEO and president of Norwegian fertiliser giant Yara International told the BBC on 26 November. This had led to a supply shortage of fertiliser which in turn was pushing up food prices. Yara had been forced to cut some production due to higher gas prices, Holsether said, which had led to shortages.