Global fertilizer shortages and rising input costs are posing an immediate challenge to farmers and food security, but also creating an opportunity to accelerate the transition toward more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices. Decades of excessive and inefficient fertilizer use have contributed to soil degradation, declining fertility, and biodiversity loss while recent conflict-related supply disruptions have exposed the vulnerability of fertilizer-dependent food systems. Building on the joint MDB response to the fertilizer crisis, including efforts to repurpose agricultural subsidies toward more efficient fertilizer use, this side event will explore how the current crisis can catalyze a shift toward restoring soil health and biodiversity as well as reducing fertilizer dependency. Healthier soils can strengthen long-term food security and agricultural productivity, improve production of nutritious food, support more stable farmer incomes, improve water-use efficiency through greater soil water retention, enhance biodiversity, and contribute to climate mitigation through carbon sequestration - turning today’s fertilizer challenge into an opportunity for more resilient and sustainable food systems.