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PM_me_your_syscoin t1_j1slzh0 wrote

Reply to comment by atrophy1999 in Soaring fertilizer prices could see millions more undernourished by Vucea

I don't know if the intuitive back-of-napkin math works there. A wider variety of crops wouldn't require more fertilizer just because they're different. You would need different types of fertilizer, which would actually help destress supply chains and prevent the risk of single-point failure that you have with monoculture. Also, you don't need as much overall agricultural production if you're primarily feeding humans and not cows/pigs/chickens.

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FlintWaterFilter t1_j1szt0b wrote

There's only three macronutrients in fertilizer. The vast majority of fertilizer is made from the same ingredients and mixed in concentration according to application. The only way to speed up the supply chain of fertilizer is to produce it closer to the point of application.

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time_drifter t1_j1t2iah wrote

This is my field of work and basically correct. The issue right now is the specific inputs for the process and sourcing them. Flocculant, potash, and catalyst for reactors have all been problematic over the past few years. Potash in particular because Canda and Russia are the biggest producers. If these inputs can be reliably sourced, production and distribution are relatively stable, just more expensive. Most of it is done by rail which is less prone to issue than freight or air.

One thing that does worry me is equipment longevity. Fertilizer production is very caustic and produces a lot of corrosive byproducts like phos-acid, sulphuric acid, etc. This requires constant maintenance using specialized and very difficult to procure parts. There are many critical components with no replacements on hand. Some of these parts are back ordered for a year or more with no alternative supplier(s). Unless we can rebuild or fabricate a solution, any one of these critical components can stop production.

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MrPicklePop t1_j1tq5gd wrote

Yup not only that, but natural gas concerns in Europe have caused them to curtail industrial fertilizer production so they can build their winter natural gas reserves. What’s going to happen come planting season in Europe?

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farmer1972 t1_j1ujh7g wrote

They have shut down one mine in Saskatchewan for potash. We have lots but the big boys don’t want the profit Marino drop

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53eleven t1_j1sx8pn wrote

Plants don’t need fertilizer to grow if the soil is being taken care of.

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