Potassium deficiency in agricultural soils is a largely unrecognized but potentially significant threat to global food security if left unaddressed, finds new research involving researchers at UCL, University of Edinburgh and the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology.
BULLET POINTS.
globally, about 20% of agricultural soils face severe potassium deficiency, with particular regions likely to experience more critical shortages, including 44% of agricultural soils in South-East Asia, 39% in Latin America, 30% in Sub-Saharan Africa and 20% in East Asia, largely due to more intensive agricultural practices.
Canada, Russia, Belarus and China producing 80% of the world’s total raw potash.
in April 2022, the price of potash increased 500% above the previous year following a “perfect storm” of factors, including rising fertilizer demand, escalating fuel prices, recovery from the pandemic, a range of government actions around the world, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Russia and Belarus together export about 42% of the world’s potash supply
2021, global potash consumption reached 45 million metric tons
And then of course they come in with some hopium crackhead dream bullshit like “Developing a global circular potassium economy that minimizes the use and maximizes the reuse and recycling of the nutrient” as if the current system is retrofittable for anything remotely like that. Even with perfect circular economy at scale, potassium still leaches from soil and is lost from agriculture.
Just seen that North America fertilizer prices have halved from the peak. Still somewhat above 10 year average though. I wonder what the price of crushed basalt/diabas is. It’s energy intensive to produce and transport. Zero nitrates and phosphates, of course.
It’s actually scary that most of the world’s potash comes from 4 countries and 3 of those are currently in hostilities with the USA.
I doubt we will ever see complete shortages even if there are embargoes because they will just sell potash to us via third parties but still… not an antifragile situation at all. And you have to wonder how much is left/how sustainable is the current production.
as long as canada stays friendly usa supply is secure , and if canada doesnt stay friendly we will just start wondering why jesus put all of USAs potash in canada and go liberate the canadian people