Fertilizers will not fix the food crisis in AfricaBy Silke Bollmohr and Harun WaruiThe world is confronting an unprecedented food crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine and worsening climate conditions. Specifically, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers disrupt the delicate balance of the soil ecosystem — the very foundation of sustainable agriculture. Perhaps most worryingly, research indicates that the production and application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers accounts for roughly 2 percent of total global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. This month, the AU’s Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in Nairobi addressed soil degradation and food insecurity. Productivity can be maintained without industrial nitrogen fertilizers, as shown in long-term trials across Africa.

Source: Taipei Times May 17, 2024 16:58 UTC