Fertiliser crisis: Era of cheap fertiliser "over"

In October, the United Nations warned of a global shortage of food, unless there is immediate action to bring fertiliser prices down.

Fertiliser terminal at sunset

With nine of the world’s biggest fertiliser companies on course to make more than €57bn in total profits in 2022, pressure is mounting on governments to support alternative technologies, in order to reduce the consumption of chemical fertilisers.

Organisations seeking more sustainable food systems warn that the cost of chemical fertilisers has skyrocketed and is putting severe economic strain on farmers and on public budgets.