Kathmandu. Global supplies of conventional nitrogen fertilisers have been disrupted amid tensions between the US and Iran. As a result, farmers around the world are looking for new and innovative options to save their crops.
According to Bloomberg, natural and organic alternatives such as human urine, chicken manure and worm fertilizers are suddenly in high demand amid skyrocketing prices of chemical fertilizers such as urea. About a third of the world’s urea (a major nitrogen fertilizer) comes from the Gulf region. The Hormuz blockade has pushed urea prices to multi-year record levels. The blockade has also disrupted supply. As a result, farmers are forced to look for alternatives.
How high has the price reached?
Since the war began, Egypt’s urea has increased by more than 90 percent to $940 a tonne. The World Bank estimates that fertiliser prices could increase by about a third (30 percent) this year. This has increased the fear of worsening the food crisis. The United Nations warns that an additional 45 million people could face serious food insecurity.
Eating bacteria from human urine
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This crisis presents a major opportunity for organic fertilizers. Which farmers previously considered ineffective compared to chemical fertilizers. It can also provide a growth opportunity for many startups.
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French startup Toopi Organics has started collecting human urine from schools and festivals and converting it into a bacterial food that helps plants grow.
The company’s sales have increased by 25 percent since February. “The war has been a boon for our business,” said François Gérard, a representative of the company. Urine is available in abundance as a raw material everywhere. ’
Chicken Poop and Worms
Farm Fresh Bhd, a Malaysian dairy company, feeds cow and buffalo manure to the worms. As a result, the fertilizer for the grass becomes fertile. Now they are also adding chicken manure to the mix. British farmer James Mills says that chicken manure sellers are now getting longer lines of buyers. ’
Affordable organic alternative
Pivot Bio has slashed the price of its organic fertiliser by 15 percent.TAG_OPEN_li_44
This is saving U.S. farmers up to 65 percent compared to conventional fertilizers.TAG_OPEN_li_43 Pivot Bio has also been endorsed by Bill Gates.
Thai startup Living Roots’ production is proving to be much cheaper than urea.TAG_OPEN_li_42
Governments encourage
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The European Union (EU) has introduced a new fertiliser strategy this week to address acute fertiliser shortages. It promotes the use of bio-based fertilizers and biogas waste instead of chemical fertilizers.
