ICOS and FCI to discuss fertiliser costs at Oireachtas committee
The soaring cost of fertiliser due to ongoing war in the Middle East will be the main focus for the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food at its meeting this afternoon (Wednesday, April 29).
The meeting in Leinster House will hear from representatives from the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society (ICOS) and the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI).
The practical closure of the Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman is impacting on global fertiliser supply chains and, as a result, prices.
Exports of between 20% to 45% of key agrifood inputs rely on sea passage through the Strait of Hormuz according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon recently said that increases in fertiliser prices in Ireland have varied with the price of calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) estimated to have risen by around 20% since the beginning of March, while urea has increased by as much as 60%.
Fertiliser
Speaking ahead of this afternoon's meeting Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food cathaoirleach Deputy Aindrias Moynihan said:
"Our committee is very aware that the recent increase in fertiliser prices has added huge pressures for Irish farmers.
"After peaking during the last energy crisis, prices had moderated but increased significantly again in the recent months.
"We will look to those attending the meeting on Wednesday to give their in-depth perspectives on the current price, the causes and outline any measures that they would see implemented in order to alleviate the pressure experienced by our farmers," he said.
