Irish farmers face fertiliser shortages over Middle East conflict - expert
A grassland expert has warned that Irish farmers are facing a shortage of nitrogen (N) fertiliser as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
Dr. Patrick Cashman's comments come as the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, continues to impact on fertiliser shipments from major producers, including Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
He said these countries account for an estimated 20% of traded global N fertiliser, along with liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports that can be used for nitrogen production.
Operators have stopped sending their vessels into the strait over the fear of Iran’s attacks on shipping tankers.
According to the United Nations (UN) the strait where the Persian Gulf narrows has fallen from around 130 ships per day before the conflict to single digits in early March, a decline of more than 95%.
Iran said yesterday (Tuesday, March 24) that "non‑hostile vessels" may safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz "in coordination with the competent Iranian authorities".
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that such vessels cannot belong to the US or Israel and must "not participate or cooperate in the aggressive operations against Iran".
Fertiliser
Dr. Patrick Cashman, a grass and forage expert at Cork-based seed company Goldcrop, said that Ireland’s dependence on imported fertiliser leaves farmers exposed to global conflicts and geopolitical instability.
He said that Irish farmers are facing rising fertiliser costs and potential supply shortages as the conflict escalated in the Middle East.
"The war in Iran is a clear supply-side risk for Irish agriculture.
"Any disruption to global fertiliser flows will quickly feed through to higher costs for farmers, putting additional pressure on already tight margins," he said.
Volatile regions
Dr. Cashman noted that Russia accounts for roughly 20% of the global fertiliser trade.
"We cannot have a farming system that is dependent on inputs coming from volatile regions of the world.
"When supply chains are disrupted, the cost ultimately works its way through the food chain, increasing farmers cost base and onto supermarket shelves," he said.
Dr. Cashman has urged the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to "reinforce its messaging" through a national campaign that highlights how clover-rich grass swards can help farmers ease their reliance on nitrogen fertilisers.
“Clover is one of the most practical and environmentally sustainable tool Irish farmers have available.
"When integrated into perennial ryegrass swards, it naturally fixes nitrogen in the soil, improves grass growth and can increase animal production, all while reducing the need for expensive synthetic fertiliser," he said.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Healy-Rae recently told the Dáil that there may be sufficient fertiliser stocks in the country to last until mid-April.
