Poorest face food crisis amid fertiliser shortage

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The boss of a major fertiliser firm says that a global shortage of fertilisers is driving up food prices and leaving poorer countries facing crisis.

Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of Yara International, said higher gas prices were pushing up fertiliser costs.

Fertiliser requires a lot of gas.

Mr Holsether said Yara had been forced to cut production due to higher gas prices.

The chief executive said that developing countries would be hit the hardest by the shortages.

He told the Today programme that vulnerable people are being hit hard by the food crisis.

It's hitting the pocketbooks of many people and it's impacting food prices all over the world. For some people, especially in the developing world, this is a question of life or death.

Mr Holsether said that farmers in developing countries would not be able to plant as many crops because of less fertiliser.

Farmers use fertilization to boost yields of crops. The process of creating ammonia, which is present in many fertilisers, currently relies on hydropower or natural gas.

The increase in gas prices in recent months has been caused by several factors, including the increase in demand and the reduced wind or rain for renewable power.

The price of ammonia, the product Yara International produces more than anyone in the world, is up 255% last year.

Mr Holsether called for support and funding for the World Food Programme to avoid famine.

He said that Yara donated 40,000 tonnes of fertiliser last year, which resulted in small-hold farms in East Africa tripling their crop yields.

He said it shows the impact that fertiliser can have.