Agriculture relies on fossil fuels. It’s costing us.
Rising fossil fuel prices, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, are significantly increasing the cost of fertilizer production. The article explores how these economic pressures impact global agriculture and suggests that climate-friendly alternatives could provide future relief.
Why it matters
Fertilizer costs are a major driver of food inflation, and the reliance on natural gas makes the global food supply chain vulnerable to geopolitical instability.
Could new fertilizers help combat high prices?
If you’ve had to fill up your vehicle’s gas tank or buy a plane ticket lately, you’ve probably felt the effects of rising fossil-fuel prices. But farmers buying fertilizer for their crops are especially aware of just how far the ripple effects of the conflict in Iran have spread.
Fertilizer prices have been on a roller coaster this year, kicked off in part by trade disruptions and high prices for natural gas, a key ingredient in fertilizer production. Let’s take a closer look at why conventional fertilizer prices are so sky-high, and how a few more climate-friendly alternatives could bring farmers some relief.
As fossil-fuel prices go up, nearly all industries are affected, since most of our economy relies on these fuels to move goods and people around.
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