The Rise and Fall of the Chilean Nitrates Industry

For decades, modern agriculture depended on fertilizing nitrates mined out of a South American desert. These mines were the world's only such sources of nitrates. So valuable that three countries went to war over them. These nitrate riches, monopolized by foreigners, were wiped away thanks to one of the most famous chemical processes in history. But it took longer than you think. In this video, the glorious nitrates mining boom, the countries who bled for it, the men who monopolized it, and the technologies that ended it.

---

Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year.

---

Listen to Stratechery.

Listen to Dithering.

Listen to Sharp China.

Listen to Sharp Tech.

Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.