Crop input supply expected to remain tight for near future

Mar 01, 2023

The man who leads the world’s largest supplier of crop nutrients says there’s no quick relief in sight for tight global supplies of nitrogen and potash.

During a presentation at the Food, Fuel and Fertilizer Business Summit held in Saskatoon Feb. 14-15, Nutrien president and chief executive officer Ken Seitz said the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine will continue to limit global supplies of critical farm inputs.

Global demand for nitrogen and potash is expected to remain strong as farmers in major food exporting nations focus on maximizing yields to make up for declining agricultural output in Ukraine, he added.

In a nutshell, all signals point to a positive business outlook for Nutrien, which recently announced plans to boost potash production in Saskatchewan to 18 million tonnes annually by 2026, up from 13 million tonnes in 2021.

“Geopolitical events caused an unprecedented level of supply disruption and market volatility across agriculture, energy and fertilizer markets in 2022,” Seitz said, following the release of Nutrien’s fourth quarter and full-year 2022 financial results.

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Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.