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The war between Ukraine and Russia is already having a significant impact on the price of foodstuffs, these two countries being major exporters of cereals and sunflower oil. But this agricultural crisis could well extend beyond the borders of the belligerents, because Russia, hit by numerous economic sanctions, is also a major producer of fertilizers.
Wheat prices soar as two of the world’s largest producers go to war. But agriculture risks also being undermined in other European countries, including France, alarms BFM Business. Because Russia, hit by economic sanctions, is also a major producer of the fertilizers needed for French crops, but also of potash – Russia and Belarus produce 40% of the world supply.
Crisis in sight for the 2023 harvest
In addition to raw fertilizer, Russia also produces no less than 12.5% of the urea needed to make fertilizers in France, according to data from Agritel. And this, not to mention natural gas, which is also essential to the proper functioning of industries. Moscow recently recommended Russian fertilizer producers to temporarily suspend their exports, and these could in any case be penalized by the measures aimed at the financial and logistics sector, further adding to the supply difficulties linked to the health crisis. ; fertilizer prices have already been on the rise since last summer.
The situation raises fears of a disaster for the French harvest of 2023: “We have to find short-term solutions if we want to have the necessary fertilizers for the next campaign. We will have to be creative, ”says Florence Nys, general delegate of the Union of Fertilization Industries (Unifa), which brings together French industrialists in the sector.
Simple solutions to find, but complex to undertake
The solutions are simple, but difficult to implement: France must completely review its supply of fertilizers and turn to other suppliers, while using its own resources. The west of the country does not lack manure of animal origin, mainly from pig farms. This could also be used to produce methane, provided that investments follow to consolidate new infrastructure.
Another solution, in the longer term than the 2023 horizon, would consist of renovating agriculture to reorient it towards plants that consume less methane from spreading, but also to bet on genetics and biotechnologies to reduce dependence on fertilizers . The European Commission has opened the door to an authorization of experiments in this direction, but these are not unanimous.