Andrey Guryev, head of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association (RAPU), warned that in 2023 the world is facing a global food disaster. TASS.
“Given the sharp 20-30% drop in fertilizer application in parts of the planet compared to last year, the current crisis in food availability threatens to turn into a global food disaster next year,” he said.
Guryev noted that Europe has already reduced its purchases of phosphorus and potash fertilizers by 30-33 percent, and that reimbursement of such fertilizers to Europeans is “the most problematic”. The head of the association said that Russia also reduced the supply of potash to Europe by 1.2 million tons (to 0.7 million tons) and phosphate fertilizers by 1.5 times (to 2 million tons).
Against the background of fertilizer shortages, the EU is discussing lifting restrictions on the toxic cadmium content in mineral fertilizers introduced in July. The RAPU chief said this decision would provoke “a flood of fertilizers containing high concentrations of hazardous substances” in Europe, which would deal “an unprecedented blow to the health” of Europeans “for the sake of the temporary situation”. Additional.
Previously at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declarationLatvia, Estonia, Belgium and the Netherlands are blocking fertilizers that the Russian Federation is ready to transfer to the poorest countries. By data Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Vershinin, up to 280 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers from Russia were detained in European ports.