78. Bleak or bountiful future: Why fertilizer is vital to global food supplies

This episode of the Weekly Tradecast talks about fertilizer and how harvests could wilt without more supply at cheaper prices with UNCTAD’s Sangram Rane, who is part of the UN task team focused on tackling global food insecurity.

Before the war, The Russian Federation and Ukraine together accounted for almost a third of global wheat exports. Russia is also a major exporter of fertilizers and of key ingredients – such as ammonia – that are used to make them.  

Earlier UN-led deals with Ukraine and Russia on grain and fertilizer exports helped to reduce food prices and lessen the impact of the global cost-of-living crisis. But fertilizer remains expensive and in short supply as high energy prices raise production costs. 

Without enough fertilizer this year, the UN is warning there may not be enough food.   

Tune in to UNCTAD’s Sangram Rane to find out why.