Smart Net-Zero

May 31, 2026 | AP News |

Since Iran's war began on February 28, disruption to Strait of Hormuz shipping has driven fertilizer prices up 40-50%, per World Bank and IFPRI data, pushing farmers across Africa, Latin America, and Asia toward organic alternatives. In Senegal, farmer Abou Sow has used compost and herder manure for eight years and now recruits others, as the government subsidizes 30,000 tonnes of organic fertilizer. Brazil's biofertilizer sector grew 15% in 2023-2024 despite importing over 80% of its fertilizer. India launched a "national mission" on May 10 to cut chemical fertilizer use 50% through natural farming, already adopted by 1.7 million farmers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. FAO chief economist and other experts say the crisis is accelerating practices that also cut farm emissions and boost soil carbon, though scaling remains constrained by existing chemical-fertilizer subsidies, as in Mexico.