There are three main nutrients that people put down on the ground. Nitrogen is generally thought of as the most important because there are plants like corn that you have to apply it every year. Potash and phosphate are both mined. You actually have to get it out of the ground similar to the way you would even mine coal.
One unexpected consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: It highlighted how just a handful of countries–notably Russia and China–supply much of the fertilizer needed to feed the world. Amid geopolitical tensions and humanitarian concerns, the race for fertilizer has become a priority for the U.S. and its allies.
Bloomberg reporter Elizabeth Elkin joins this episode to talk about how concerns about fertilizer shortages have nations looking for alternatives.
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