<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Europe\u2019s fertilizer crunch is deepening with more than two-thirds of production capacity halted by soaring gas costs, threatening farmers and consumers far beyond the region\u2019s borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Europe becomes a net importer of fertilizer, the fallout from the supply crunch will spread. The region will start competing for scarce supplies with poorer nations, especially in Africa, where food insecurity is exacerbated by persistent droughts and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These prices cause third degree burns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the CRU Group, a business intelligence firm specialising in commodities, fertiliser producers in the EU were losing an estimated US$2 000 (about R35 448) for every ton of ammonia they produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where farmers in Western Europe were paying about US$250\/t (R4 431\/t) for ammonia in early 2021, the same fertiliser was currently selling for about US$1 250\/t (R22 155\/t), which was seriously affecting crop production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No wonder fertilizer plants are closing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the decade the first factories started producing ammonia the world\u2019s population has grown<\/a> from 2 to 8 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n via JoNova<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n September 25, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/joannenova.com.au\/wp-content\/europe-fertilizer-shut-downs-scaled.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHigher gas prices deepen Europe\u2019s fertiliser crunch, threaten food crisis<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fertiliser shortage threatens farming, food security in Europe<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Today, chemical fertilizers contribute to about half of the nitrogen put into global agriculture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n