Devex Newswire: Why fertilizer is a mucky problem for the food crisis

Mineral fertilizers have tripled in price since the start of 2020, creating significant problems for farmers worldwide and pushing up the cost of most foodstuffs in supermarkets. Although many would love to see organic fertilizer replace chemicals, an expert tells Devex it’s not realistic — and could exacerbate an already complicated food scenario.  

Also in today’s edition: We look at one candidate for Britain’s prime minister and his proposals to fundamentally change aid funding. And as the World Cup gets closer, we highlight a lack of transparency from sponsors.  

Manure-splaining

As the global food crisis drags on, farmers are fretting over how to boost yields from crops already weakened by drought in some places and severe rains in others. They need to get the most from their fields without buckling under the costs of expensive synthetic fertilizers, whose cost has tripled in some parts of the world. Such fertilizers already carried a hefty price tag before Russia invaded Ukraine, but with President Vladimir Putin calling the shots on much of the world’s coal and gas supply — necessary for fertilizer production — alternatives are urgently needed.

Cheaper and more environmentally sound organic matter would be a boon for farmers. But even with the best intentions, organic alternatives just won’t cut it and certainly won’t produce enough food to ease the shortages.  

We spoke to Douglas Kerr, vice president of the International Fertilizer Development Center, to find out just how dire the situation has become. We need to be realistic, he says. The sheer quantities of organic matter ­— mostly manure — that would be needed mean the idea is a waste of time.

“The idea of completely getting away from mineral fertilizers is a nonstarter,” he says.

Food crisis: Mineral fertilizers 'here to stay,' says IFDC (Pro)

+ Devex Pro members can read our latest Pro series on how organizations are responding to the food crisis. Not a Pro member yet? Start your free 15-day trial.

Under the floodlight

As a soccer fan, it’s hard not to be excited about the World Cup. But this year feels different. With just over three months until the starting whistle, the murky backdrop to the FIFA tournament in Qatar leaves a sour taste.

Thousands of foreign workers have died since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar. Many have been injured or sickened toiling in merciless temperatures topping 40 degrees Celsius to prepare the infrastructure ready for hundreds of thousands of supporters in Doha. At least 60 workers were arrested this week for protesting months without pay.

But although international scrutiny is intense, most event sponsors failed to disclose details of their human rights and recruitment risk management when questioned by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Only four of the 19 sponsors approached bothered to respond, it said.

They deserve to be named: Adidas, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, and Qatar Airways. So do those who didn’t respond: Wanda, Hyundai Kia Motor, Visa, QatarEnergy, Hisense, McDonald’s, Vivo, Mengniu, Crypto, BYJU’s, GWC, UPL, Ooredoo, The Look Company, and Algorand.

“As the tournament nears, sponsors may well feel pressure to respond, but the question is whether there is a genuine desire to be open about their recruitment practices and improve and whether there is time left to make a difference ahead of kick-off,” Isobel Archer, the center’s Gulf program manager, told Devex, adding that Qatar has introduced some encouraging labor reforms.

‘Get tougher’

The United Kingdom’s aid budget could be withheld from funding development programs in countries that refuse to help take back “failed asylum seekers” if Rishi Sunak becomes prime minister. The former chancellor, who was responsible for cutting the 0.7% aid budget, plans to make aid a part of his playbook for tackling illegal migration to the U.K., he said during a campaign speech in Birmingham Tuesday.

“We’ve got to get tougher with foreign policy,” Sunak told the audience. “When we are choosing where to provide aid … I think it’s entirely reasonable that if we’re thinking about where we can do that, we do it with countries that are happy to help us and take back their failed asylum seekers,” he continued.

While Sunak is not favored to become prime minister — that’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss — it potentially pulls the aid debate on dangerous ground for development advocates. Most NGOs have been staying silent on the issue during the Conservative leadership race to avoid it becoming a political football.

Read: UK PM candidate Sunak proposes withholding aid to control migration

Learn more: UK to fund Rwanda economic development alongside migrant deportation

+ Get up to speed with the latest news and analysis of the U.K. aid sector.

Gone too soon

Mauro Petriccione, head of the European Union’s climate directorate, has died, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. “Mauro was a dear, respected colleague. His work earned him respect and friendships in Europe & beyond. My thoughts are with his family & friends in these sad times,” she said in a tweet. 

Petriccione, who led DG Clima from 2018, died of a heart attack.

In other news

China has announced debt forgiveness of 23 interest-free loans to 17 African nations and plans to channel $10 billion of its special drawing rights to two IMF trusts to help low-income countries on the continent. [Bloomberg]

Tecovirimat, a drug for smallpox, is undergoing its first clinical trial to see if it could be used to help speed up recovery from monkeypox. [BBC]

A U.N.-accredited diplomat from South Sudan who was arrested in New York following rape allegations has been released due to diplomatic immunity. [The Guardian]

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