As agricultural fertilizer gets political food supplies will shrink and poor people will starve.

Perplexity – Based on the search results, I can provide information on the major countries that produce agricultural fertilizers, their energy sources, raw materials, and export values. Here’s a summary: Top fertilizer-producing countries:

  1. Russia: Largest exporter of agricultural fertilizers, with exports valued at approximately $12.5 billion in 2021.
  2. China: Second-largest exporter, with exports valued at about $10.9-11.5 billion. China is also the world’s largest producer of nitrogen fertilizers.
  3. Canada: Third-largest exporter, with exports valued at $6.6 billion.
  4. Morocco: Fourth-largest exporter, with exports valued at $5.7 billion.
  5. United States: Fifth-largest exporter, with exports valued at $4.1 billion.

Other significant producers include Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Oman, Qatar, India, and Indonesia. Raw materials and energy sources:

  1. Nitrogen fertilizers:
    • Raw material: Ammonia, which is produced from natural gas (methane) and nitrogen from the air.
    • Energy source: Natural gas is used both as a raw material and energy source for the Haber process to produce ammonia.
  2. Phosphate fertilizers:
    • Raw material: Mined phosphate rock.
    • Energy source: Not specifically mentioned in the search results, but typically involves energy-intensive mining operations.
  3. Potash fertilizers:
    • Raw material: Mined potassium-containing minerals.
    • Energy source: Not specifically mentioned, but also involves energy-intensive mining operations.

The global fertilizer industry is valued at approximately $200 billion. The production of nitrogen fertilizers has increased significantly since the 1960s, with current global production estimated at about 100 million tonnes of nitrogen per year. It’s worth noting that the distribution of fertilizer production varies by type:

  • Nitrogen fertilizer production is more evenly distributed globally due to the widespread availability of natural gas.
  • Phosphate and potash fertilizer production is more regionally concentrated due to the location of mineral deposits.
  • Countries like Canada, Belarus, and Russia hold the majority of the world’s potash production capacity.
  • China is the largest producer of phosphate fertilizers.

\\ All of the major manufactures of fertilizers are in the northern hemispheres, and all but Morocco are target countries in World War 3. We must get the non-combatant southern countries to manufacture fertilizers in the higher latitudes of the southern hemisphere, and preferably in their own countries near the farms. The quickest and probably the cheapest way to do this is with solar panels, which make the electricity for the necessary processes. Also, they must locate secure sources in the southern hemisphere for the necessary raw materials. //