Key facts
- EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen warned of potential food shortages if long-term fertiliser solutions are not found.
- Rising fertiliser costs, driven by geopolitical tensions and energy dependence, are making crop production too expensive for many European farmers.
- The EU is proposing over €500 million in immediate financial aid to farmers, with potential for member state top-ups to reach €1.5 billion.
- Hansen stressed the need to strengthen domestic fertiliser production, promote organic fertilisers, and improve nutrient recycling.
- Europe's reliance on imported energy and fertilisers leaves it vulnerable to global market disruptions and geopolitical shocks.
European Union Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen has warned that the bloc faces potential food shortages if it does not secure sustainable, long-term fertiliser supplies. Speaking to Euronews, Hansen stated that while the European Commission has introduced financial aid to help farmers cope with soaring fertiliser costs, this short-term relief is insufficient.
The current crisis, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions including the conflict in the Middle East and the energy crisis stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has sent fertiliser prices up by 60% between 2020 and 2024. Hansen highlighted that Europe's heavy reliance on imported energy, particularly natural gas for nitrogen fertiliser production, and the import of 40-45% of its fertilisers from third countries, leaves it vulnerable to global market disruptions and price shocks.
To address these structural weaknesses, the EU is proposing over €500 million in immediate financial support for farmers, with the potential for member states to increase this to €1.5 billion. Beyond financial aid, Hansen emphasized the need for stronger domestic production, promoting organic fertilisers, improving nutrient recycling, and encouraging precision farming techniques. He also noted the importance of reliable international partnerships for raw materials not available within Europe, drawing parallels to dependencies in other sectors like semiconductors and medical products.
Hansen's remarks underscore a broader European concern about dependence on foreign imports and vulnerability to supply chain disruptions, which he described as a form of 'fertiliser diplomacy or warfare'.