Europe faces fertilizer shortages amid ongoing conflict in Iran region

European Union Launches Fertilizer Plan Amid Global Supply Chain Disruptions

Agriculture ministers from the European Union are meeting in Brussels to discuss the availability of fertilizer, following disruptions in global supply chains due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. The European Commission has proposed a new Fertilizer Action Plan aimed at supporting farmers who face significant increases in fertilizer costs.

The plan includes measures such as possible fertilizer stockpiles, emergency support for farmers, and increased imports from countries other than Russia and Belarus. It also aims to boost agricultural production and reduce Europe’s dependence on food imports.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that carries approximately one-third of the world’s seaborne fertilizer trade, have raised concerns about rising fuel and fertilizer costs affecting farmers already struggling with high expenses. The EU imports large volumes of fertilizer, including ammonia, urea, and nitrogen fertilizers, which are used to produce its own nitrogen fertilizers.

The Middle East accounts for a small percentage of the EU’s fertilizer imports, but the blockade has raised concerns about global food security, particularly in Africa and South Asia. The European Commission is working to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on imports through measures such as emergency financial support for farmers and more flexible advance payments under the Common Agricultural Policy.

The plan also includes initiatives to support farmers who reduce their reliance on synthetic fertilizers, including bio-based alternatives and more efficient fertilizer use. In addition, the EU has suspended duties on some nitrogen fertilizers from countries other than Russia and Belarus, which could save importers approximately 60 million euros.

Source: Al Jazeera