The critical minerals of food security: Why fertiliser belongs in the conversation
When we speak of critical minerals, the conversation almost always turns to the energy transition and advanced technology. Lithium, cobalt, coltan, and the three Ts (tantalum, tin, and tungsten) dominate the headlines. They are the materials behind artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and defence systems. Yet this focus often overlooks something more basic: global food security. Potash and…
The conversation surrounding critical minerals often centers on energy transition and advanced technology, with materials like lithium, cobalt, coltan, and the three Ts (tantalum, tin, and tungsten) prevailing. However, this focus often overlooks the importance of fertilizers in global food security. Potash and phosphate rock, which supply potassium and phosphorus respectively, are essential nutrients for agriculture.
Sulphur, which serves as both a plant nutrient and a feedstock for sulphuric acid used in producing fertilizers, also plays a crucial role. Nitrogen, the third key nutrient, is primarily synthesized into ammonia-based fertilizers. Green ammonia, produced using renewable hydrogen, presents a potential solution for reducing emissions in fertilizer production.
In November 2025, the United States added potash and phosphate to its list of critical minerals, acknowledging their significance beyond the energy sector. This recognition echoes the understanding of agronomists and traders who have long acknowledged the supply risks posed by limited phosphate and potassium reserves. Despite Africa being a major source of cobalt and coltan, the continent lags behind in fertilizer application, applying only around 18 kg of nutrients per hectare, compared to the global average of 13 percent.
Furthermore, about 70 percent of the fertilizers produced in Africa remain unutilized. This disparity highlights the challenges faced by smallholder farmers who struggle to obtain affordable fertilizers, resulting in reduced harvests and rising food prices, particularly impacting vulnerable communities. The issue extends beyond mere market failures, representing a humanitarian crisis as well.
Governments have taken steps to address this problem, with the United States, European Union, G7 nations, and the G20 collectively recognizing the importance of fertilizers in ensuring food system resilience. They have addressed aspects such as agricultural input flow, key logistics corridors, working capital for farmers, and investment in local and regional fertilizers production.
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap in fertilizers trade. As a government authority operating under UAE law and regulation, DMCC offers a secure platform for trade, storage, financing, and return of fertilizers to farms. Through its critical minerals vertical, DMCC facilitates the trade of minerals like potash, phosphate, sulphur, and nitrogen, providing liquidity and risk management tools to buyers.
The DMCC infrastructural framework ensures that fertilizers can be kept dry and segregated, enabling a viable market. Moreover, the UAE's expertise in sulphur production complements the fertilizers trade, as sulphuric acid is essential in phosphate fertilizer and battery-grade nickel and cobalt processing. With a growing commercial base of fertilizers businesses and financial, logistics, and maritime service providers, the UAE is well-positioned to address fertilizer shortages and enhance food security.
Implementing OECD-aligned due diligence and the proposed Dubai Critical Minerals Standard would further strengthen the transparency and trust in the fertilizers trade, ensuring clean chains of custody for national food reserves as well as battery manufacturing.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
