One of the concerns that has come out of the Iran War is its impact on growing crops.
According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, about 30 percent of global fertilizer trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024. The ongoing conflict in that region has resulted in rising costs and concerns for food producers in the US.
Rory Maguire, an expert in nutrient management and sustainable agriculture at Virginia Tech, explained the specifics of the war’s impact on fertilizer, the effect it is having on growing in the US, and what alternatives there may be for growers.
When fertilizer is mentioned in relation to the Iran war, what specifically is being talked about?
“Three primary nutrients make up most fertilizer— nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In the US, most of our potassium is mined in Canada. Our phosphorus is mined here in North America, some in North Carolina, some in Florida, and some comes from Morocco. But the one they're really talking about, related to the Iran war, is nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizer is made from natural gas, and of course, they produce a lot of natural gas in the Middle East. They also have a lot of factories to convert that into nitrogen fertilizer. I think something like 30 percent of global nitrogen fertilizers come out of the gulf.”
Why is fertilizer critical for the growth of crops?
“Just like we need good nutrition, plants need good nutrition. And if we don't eat enough, we're going to be malnourished, and the same with plants. So our soils tend to be deficient in nutrients in terms of getting maximum growth. If you look at the forest, it grows very slowly.
Source : vt.edu