Price of fertiliser is hot topic
THE old proverb that says “it never rains but it pours” seems to be accurate in many ways in recent days.
Autumn is most certainly making its presence felt and ‘bands of low pressure’ are becoming a commonplace feature on any forecast.
In contrast to the weather systems though, the pressure is certainly high and increasing, not just for agriculture, but in general.
As expected, the price of fertiliser is a hot topic lately, and who would have thought that its production (or lack of) would be given so much public attention.
A looming shortage of fertiliser’s by-product – CO2 – because of extortionate gas prices triggered the UK Government to shake the money tree again so that at least some production could recommence at the Americanowned CF Fertiliser plants in the UK.
I think it’s reasonable, in this context, to ask which is viewed as the by-product and how does society value the products that are derived from the chemical process in question.
Whilst the use of chemical fertiliser is a hotly debated topic in itself in certain circles, its usage to varying extents is a feature in food production systems globally. In the Wales and UK context, the capacity to produce – whether using fertiliser or not – impacts the level of self-sufficiency in terms of food.
I think that over the past 18 months, the UK’S vulnerability when finely tuned and delicate supply chains encounter turbulence, whether caused by nature, a man made phenomenon or disruptive constitutional change, has been very much exposed.
Over recent days, social media has been littered with posts either updating newsfeeds that ‘such and such fuel station has just had a delivery’ or other posts showing people ridiculously hoarding fuels in all types of containers.
Some have reported heated exchanges or even fist fights at the pumps. It’s all so reminiscent of the mindless rush for loo roll, Calpol, soap and paracetamol at the beginning of the pandemic.
Whilst such behaviour is at best ridiculous, on a serious note it shows the kind of society in which we live where the ‘me first’ attitude is commonplace.
The selfish gene is indeed prevalent. God forbid we find ourselves in a position where food supplies are severely impacted for a prolonged period.
That, though, is the risk the UK Government seems to be content to take in the context of postbrexit trade deals and its pursual of certain ‘environmental goals’.
Only time will tell if the Welsh Government will be happy to contribute to the running of that risk, or whether it will show leadership and understanding in ensuring that food security, as well as production standards, are matters of importance.
Despite the thin-wearing rationale that ‘the market rewards production’, food security should, in my humble opinion, be considered a ‘public good’ delivered by active farmers.