KindHarvest summary: The sharp rise in synthetic fertiliser prices in 2022 exposed the risks of a concentrated, fossil-fuel-dependent supply chain. Kathleen Merrigan argued that public support should expand farmers’ choices by developing lower-input practices and credible biological alternatives, rather than focusing only on increasing conventional fertiliser production.
The cost and environmental pressure
Synthetic fertilisers have helped raise crop yields, but their use is uneven and excess nutrients can pollute waterways, contaminate drinking water and produce nitrous oxide. In 2022, supply disruption, high energy costs and industry concentration combined to push farm costs sharply higher, particularly for nitrogen-intensive corn production.
Options beyond more manufacturing
The article points to nitrogen-fixing crops, manure, compost, crop rotation and integrated crop-livestock systems. It also considers biofertilisers, bionutrients and biostimulants that may improve nutrient availability, uptake or crop resilience. Evidence and product quality vary, so these tools require independent testing and sound agronomy.
Helping farmers manage transition risk
Merrigan proposed technical advice, transition payments and crop-insurance tools to help farmers reduce synthetic inputs without carrying all the short-term risk themselves. The practical goal is not a single replacement product, but a more diverse fertility strategy matched to soil reserves, crop demand and local conditions.
Related KindHarvest reading
See Nature-based farming can cut fertiliser use, finds trial for results from long-running field experiments.
Source and credit
This KindHarvest Team research brief is based on an article by Kathleen Merrigan, executive director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University, published by The Conversation on 14 June 2022. Read the full article at The Conversation.