Latin America and Africa Face Different Challenges in the Face of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Crisis
The global nitrogen fertilizer supply chain has been exposed as fragile, with recent events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighting its vulnerability. This crisis has had a major impact on food security, particularly in developing countries. The World Food Programme estimates that around 345 million people worldwide are currently facing high levels of food insecurity, a surge of 200 million people compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Latin America and Africa, two regions heavily reliant on imports for their fertilizer needs, have been particularly affected. In this article, we will explore the challenges faced by these regions and the potential solutions to mitigate the impact on food security.
Latin America: Dependence on Fertilizer Imports
Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, heavily rely on imports of nitrogen fertilizers. Brazil, one of the largest food producers globally, imports approximately 85% of its fertilizer needs, posing a threat to global food security. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro even visited Russia to discuss fertilizer sales shortly before the invasion of Ukraine. Mexico, despite having access to low-priced natural gas from the US, lacks comprehensive policies to expand nitrogen fertilizer production and relies mostly on imports. The current government aims to increase domestic production but has so far focused on providing fertilizers to small farmers through a social program.
Africa: Low Fertilizer Use, High Food Insecurity
Africa faces its own set of challenges in the fertilizer crisis. The continent has low fertilizer use rates per hectare of cropland, resulting in inadequate crop yields to meet the food requirements of the local population. The Abuja Declaration in 2006 called for an increase in fertilizer use in Africa, but the goal remains elusive due to limited access to affordable fertilizers. In 2020, the average fertilizer application in Africa was only 26 kg per hectare, compared to the global average of 129 kg. Some countries in Africa even had combined nutrient values as low as 1 to 16 kg per hectare.
The Importance of Addressing the Nitrogen Fertilizer Crisis
The upcoming 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates will focus on the nexus between food security and reducing emissions. Increasing domestic fertilizer production in developing countries is a crucial objective to mitigate food insecurity. For Latin American countries, it could strengthen their regional and global influence as food suppliers. In Africa, the impact of increasing domestic production goes beyond food security, potentially creating jobs and lifting people out of poverty.
Conclusion:
The fragility of the nitrogen fertilizer supply chain has exposed the vulnerability of developing countries, particularly in Latin America and Africa, to food insecurity. While Latin American countries heavily rely on imports, Africa faces the dual challenge of low fertilizer use and high food insecurity. Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach, including increasing domestic fertilizer production and ensuring access to affordable fertilizers. Balancing the objective of food security with the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be a key topic of discussion at the upcoming COP28. It is imperative that global efforts are made to strengthen the nitrogen fertilizer supply chain and secure food for millions of vulnerable people worldwide.
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