Egyptian phosphate rock exporters have resumed submitting export shipping applications after a month-long pause caused by policy uncertainty, easing concerns about near-term supply. However, questions about export availability beyond 2026 remain, according to Argus Media.

The disruption followed a May 3 government announcement in which Industry Minister Ahmed Samir Saleh highlighted expanding domestic phosphate processing projects, including a joint venture between Misr Phosphate and Indorama. Although the statement led to speculation that Egypt might restrict phosphate rock exports to support local industries, no formal decree or regulations were issued. As a result, exporters temporarily suspended new shipping applications while awaiting clarification.

Market participants expect phosphate rock exports to continue as usual through 2026. However, supply for 2027 remains uncertain as the government assesses the needs of new domestic processing facilities. Exporters note that lower-grade phosphate rock from the Abu Tartour mines, typically containing 26–27% P₂O₅, has limited domestic demand and should remain available for export, even as higher-grade material is directed to local industries.

Egypt is a key global phosphate rock supplier, especially for Asia-Pacific buyers seeking alternatives to disrupted Middle Eastern routes. While Morocco’s OCP remains the leading exporter, Egyptian shipments offer flexibility and help diversify supply during market volatility.

Source: Argus Media

The World Bank has warned that global fertilizer prices could rise by more than 30% in 2026 if shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue, with nitrogen fertilizers expected to see the steepest increases due to the region’s dominant role in ammonia production and LNG exports.

According to the World Bank’s April 2026 Commodity Markets Outlook, urea prices jumped 53.7% month over month to USD 725.6 per tonne in March, the highest level in four years, after the Strait of Hormuz disruption removed roughly one-third of globally traded fertilizer volumes from the market. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) prices rose 5% to USD 658.3 per tonne, while muriate of potash (MOP) increased to USD 380.6 per tonne from USD 372.5 per tonne in February. The institution’s fertilizer price index has climbed more than 12% since the fourth quarter of 2025.

The World Bank forecasts urea prices to increase nearly 60% on average in 2026 before easing in 2027 as Middle Eastern exports recover and natural gas prices moderate. DAP prices are projected to rise about 6% this year before declining roughly 10% in 2027 as new production capacity enters the market, while MOP prices are expected to gain around 12% in 2026 before falling about 6% next year. The report said the current price shock has been moderated by pre-season fertilizer purchases in the Northern Hemisphere, less severe natural gas price increases than during the 2021–22 energy crisis, and the rerouting of some Middle Eastern exports through overland corridors. However, it warned that risks remain tilted to the upside if the Strait of Hormuz disruption extends beyond June or if China tightens fertilizer export restrictions further. The World Bank identified Sub-Saharan Africa as the region most vulnerable to prolonged high fertilizer prices because of chronically low fertilizer use and limited fiscal capacity to support farmers.

Source: World Bank

CF Industries nearly doubled its first-quarter 2026 net earnings, driven by higher global nitrogen prices after Middle Eastern export disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Net earnings reached $615 million, up from $312 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 20% year over year to $1.99 billion. EBITDA was $1.01 billion, and adjusted EBITDA rose to $983 million from $644 million in the first quarter of 2025. Results included a one-time litigation settlement gain of about $170 million.

The company stated that its North American production, supplied entirely by regional natural gas, continues to offer a structural cost advantage over producers reliant on imported LNG. CF Industries operated at over 99% of available ammonia capacity during the quarter, allowing it to benefit from higher nitrogen prices despite the ongoing Yazoo City, Mississippi, outage. The facility is not expected to resume production until late in the fourth quarter of 2026, reducing this year’s projected gross ammonia output to about 9.5 million tonnes, down from 10.1 million tonnes in 2025.

To offset production losses, CF Industries deferred planned maintenance at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana, ammonia complex and converted 100 ammonium nitrate hopper railcars for granular urea service to expand distribution capacity. The company also prioritized deliveries to U.S. customers over higher-priced export markets during the supply disruption, highlighting strong domestic nitrogen demand amid tighter global supplies.

Source: CF Industries / SEC

Washington State University researchers have transferred a complete cluster of nitrogen-fixing genes from rhizobia into bacteria that could not previously fix atmospheric nitrogen. This marks a significant step toward reducing agriculture’s dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

Published in May 2026, the study focused on the “symbiosis island,” a large gene cluster that allows rhizobia to convert atmospheric nitrogen into plant nutrients and form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. The team used a new genetic transfer system to significantly improve the efficiency of moving this complex gene cluster between bacterial species, addressing a longstanding challenge in engineering nitrogen-fixing microbes.

After introducing the symbiosis island into non-fixing bacteria, the researchers conducted millions of bacterial-plant pairings. Many engineered strains formed successful interactions with host plants, with most relationships proving beneficial or neutral rather than harmful. These results challenge the assumption that new microbial symbioses typically start as parasitic before becoming mutually beneficial.

The study also found that bacteria more closely related to naturally nitrogen-fixing rhizobia were more likely to gain functional symbiotic abilities. Led by Stephanie Porter, associate professor of biological sciences at Washington State University, the research demonstrates the potential to expand biological nitrogen fixation beyond legumes using engineered microbial communities.

Despite this progress, practical applications are still years away. Achieving nitrogen fixation in major cereal crops like wheat, corn, and rice will require both engineered bacteria and crop varieties with the necessary molecular receptors to support them. Nevertheless, this research is an important step toward biological alternatives to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, which are a major agricultural cost and a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Source: Phys.org

Cibra has agreed to sell its fertilizer blending facility in Paraná to Inpek Fertilizantes, an affiliate of the U.S.-based Nitron. This move comes as Brazil’s fertilizer distribution industry consolidates amid challenging market conditions. The transaction was submitted to Brazil’s antitrust authority, Cade, on June 17, according to Argus Media. Financial terms and production capacity were not disclosed.

The Paraná plant blends mineral fertilizers but has been operating at below-capacity levels. Cibra stated that the divestment aligns with its strategy to focus investment on more efficient and profitable operations. For Nitron, which operates fertilizer trading and distribution across the Americas, the acquisition strengthens its position in one of the world’s largest fertilizer markets.

Brazil imports about 80% to 85% of its fertilizer needs and accounts for roughly 22% of global potash demand, making it the world’s largest fertilizer importer by volume. The distribution sector has faced pressure from high global fertilizer prices, tighter farm credit, and rising rural debt defaults. As a result, weaker operators have divested assets, while larger companies have pursued acquisitions to strengthen their market positions.

The sale also highlights shifting economics in Brazil’s fertilizer blending industry. Facilities operating below capacity have struggled to remain profitable as higher raw material costs reduced blending margins. With fertilizer demand expected to recover as crop acreage expands and soil nutrient replacement increases, the acquisition allows Inpek to secure additional production capacity as market conditions improve.

Source: Argus Media

What to know about Brazil’s fertilizer distribution sector

According to an American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) survey of about 5,700 producers, nearly seven in ten U.S. crop farmers could not purchase all the fertilizer needed for the 2026 season. This finding, presented at an April 16 U.S. House Appropriations Committee hearing, clearly shows that fertilizer affordability declined significantly even before Iran’s renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz on June 20.

The survey shows that the fertilizer crisis is not limited to short-term supply issues. Economists from the University of Illinois, North Dakota State University, and Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI.ag) report that fertilizer costs have risen steadily since the conflict began in late February. They warn that high nitrogen prices may influence farm purchasing decisions through the 2027 crop cycle.

Fertilizer costs surged before Hormuz fully closed

U.S. corn producers began 2026 with higher production costs. The USDA projected average fertilizer expenses at about $166 per acre, a 5.3% increase over the previous year. After commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted on March 4, nitrogen markets tightened quickly.

AEI.ag reports that farm-level urea prices rose about 56% over the next eight weeks, while anhydrous ammonia increased by 33%. As a result, nitrogen accounted for roughly 21% of total corn production costs, the highest since 2022 and well above the long-term average of 17%.

Each $30-per-tonne increase in urea prices typically adds $15 to $20 per acre to nitrogen expenses. Many growers who had not secured fertilizer before the disruption faced production cost increases of over $50 per acre.

Growers faced difficult choices

University of Illinois researchers identified three practical options for farmers facing sharply higher fertilizer Farmers could either absorb the extra costs and maintain recommended application rates to protect yields, substitute lower-cost nitrogen products where possible, or reduce fertilizer applications and accept the risk of lower yields.p yields.

The Farm Bureau survey indicates that many producers chose to reduce fertilizer applications due to financial constraints and limited alternatives.

Research from farmdoc daily found that anhydrous ammonia offered a cost advantage of about $50 per acre over urea when supplying 180 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Such pricing gaps were last seen during the fertilizer crises of 2012 and 2022. Although some farmers switched products, storage limits, specialized equipment, and planting schedules prevented widespread substitution in the spring.

Corn growers remain the most exposed

Corn production is especially vulnerable because it requires significantly more nitrogen than soybeans or wheat, typically 150 to 200 pounds per acre.

Farmers in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest were generally better positioned, as many use anhydrous ammonia applied in the fall or early spring. Those relying on imported urea or UAN solutions through Gulf Coast terminals faced larger cost increases.

Specialty crop growers in western states were also disproportionately affected, as fruit, vegetable, and horticultural production often relies on higher-value liquid and water-soluble nitrogen fertilizers that became more expensive during the disruption.

Government and industry sought to ease supply constraints

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told lawmakers the administration plans to use tariff revenues to support increased domestic fertilizer production. She noted that new capacity would take months, not weeks, to affect market prices.

To improve domestic logistics, the Trump administration temporarily waived the Jones Act starting March 17, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport fertilizer and petroleum products between U.S. ports for 60 days. By April 30, 23 domestic shipments, including two ammonia cargoes, had moved under the waiver. While this improved regional distribution, analysts concluded it could not offset the global supply loss from Middle East disruptions.

Industry responded by maximizing domestic production. CF Industries postponed maintenance at its Donaldsonville, Louisiana, facility, the world’s largest ammonia production site, to keep about 100,000 additional tonnes of granular urea available during the spring application season. The company also prioritized U.S. customers over higher-priced export markets.

Fertilizer budgets for 2027 are already under pressure

Although benchmark urea prices eased slightly after peaking in March, analysts warn that fertilizer markets remain vulnerable. By late June, urea futures had fallen to about $359 per tonne, 17% below spring highs but still well above 2025 levels.

North Dakota State University researchers estimate that under a “Contested Transit” scenario, where shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is only partially operational, urea prices could remain above $700 per short ton through November 2026. This period aligns with the fall prepay season, when many U.S. growers secure fertilizer for the next crop year.

Iran’s renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz on June 20 makes it more likely that this scenario will become the market baseline. As a result, university economists and market analysts recommend that growers plan 2027 fertilizer budgets with higher nitrogen and phosphate prices in mind, consider forward purchasing where possible, and closely monitor global procurement events such as India’s major urea tenders, which often set international pricing benchmarks.

Source: farmdoc daily / AFBF

Five things to know about U.S. farm fertilizer costs in 2026

Mosaic has secured a $1 billion credit facility to refinance existing debt, reinforcing its balance sheet as the company prepares for higher raw material costs and a more challenging operating environment. The financing, disclosed in a June 10 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, follows a first quarter in which Mosaic exceeded revenue expectations but missed earnings-per-share estimates. CEO Bruce Bodine stated the company delivered “exemplary” operational performance in its phosphate business despite challenging market conditions.

The refinancing coincides with Mosaic’s expectation of significantly higher sulfur and ammonia costs in the second quarter, due to supply disruptions stemming from the Strait of Hormuz crisis affecting Gulf-region sulfur shipments. The company also anticipates lower phosphate sales volumes than in the first quarter due to temporary production curtailments. Mosaic projects second-quarter diammonium phosphate (DAP) prices between $760 and $780 per metric ton and aims to maintain realized stripping margins above $400 per metric ton. The company reaffirmed its full-year potash production guidance of 9 million metric tons, citing strong global demand despite weaker purchasing activity in North America.

Separately, shareholders reelected all 12 members of Mosaic’s board of directors, including Bodine, at the 2026 annual meeting and ratified KPMG as the independent auditor. The board maintained the quarterly dividend at $0.22 per share, with an ex-dividend date of May 21.

Source: GuruFocus / SEC

Key facts about Mosaic

In 2026, the urea-to-corn price ratio has reached unusually high levels. The Strait of Hormuz disruption led to uneven price increases in global nitrogen markets, making fertilizer less affordable and altering how U.S. corn growers manage nitrogen use.

Data from Agricultural Economic Insights (AEI.ag) shows that farm-level urea prices jumped 56% in the eight weeks after the Strait closed in early March. In the same period, anhydrous ammonia prices rose 33%. This difference has made anhydrous ammonia about USD 50 per acre cheaper for a standard 180-pound nitrogen application, a gap last seen during the fertilizer market disruptions in 2012 and 2022.

Nitrogen costs are expected to make up 21% of corn revenue in 2026, up from 18-19% in 2023-2025 and well above the 2010-2021 average of 17%. This jump is mostly due to higher urea prices, since about a third of the world’s urea supply usually passes through the Strait of Hormuz. In contrast, anhydrous ammonia is mainly produced from U.S. natural gas and shipped domestically, so it is less affected by global supply issues.

The widening price gap is encouraging growers to switch to anhydrous ammonia, especially through fall or pre-plant programs. Still, analysts note that many farms face constraints due to equipment, local infrastructure, and logistics. Terrain analysts expect average U.S. anhydrous ammonia prices to reach USD 760 per ton in 2026, while urea is projected at USD 620 per ton. These are both up from 2025 averages of USD 744 and USD 530 per ton.

Source: Michigan Farm News / AEI

Poland’s Hynfra and Jordan’s Fidelity Group have signed a binding investment agreement to develop a 120,000-ton-per-year green ammonia plant in Aqaba, establishing one of the Middle East’s most advanced green ammonia projects. The joint venture will supply European customers seeking low-carbon ammonia for fertilizer production and new energy applications. Jordan’s Council of Ministers approved the agreement earlier this year, providing regulatory support, and Denmark’s Topsoe is leading front-end engineering and design (FEED).

The facility will use renewable electricity to power electrolysis for hydrogen production, which will then be combined with atmospheric nitrogen to produce green ammonia. Aqaba’s location offers direct access to the Red Sea and European markets, creating an export corridor that avoids the Persian Gulf while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. Although a construction timeline has not been announced, the project expands Hynfra’s green ammonia portfolio, which includes developments in Egypt, Mauritania, and Ukraine. The company has identified financing costs as a key challenge for project execution.

Source: Quantum Commodity Intelligence

The European Union has removed its 5.5% import tariff on U.S. ammonia as part of a broader EU-U.S. trade agreement approved by the European Parliament on June 16. However, industry participants believe this change will not significantly increase U.S. exports due to the bloc’s carbon border tax.

The tariff reduction coincides with the EU’s one-year suspension of standard import duties on ammonia and urea, effective May 30, to lower fertilizer costs for European farmers. However, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), fully implemented on January 1, 2026, continues to impose high costs on imported fertilizers. Argus Media reports that U.S. ammonia faces CBAM charges of up to $196 per metric ton under default emissions values, mainly because much U.S. production uses petroleum coke rather than natural gas. In contrast, ammonia from Algeria and Egypt faces estimated CBAM costs of $62 and $59 per metric ton, respectively, maintaining their cost advantage despite the removal of U.S. tariffs.

European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič stated that the European Commission will implement the tariff changes promptly and may consider similar measures for other fertilizer products. However, market analysts expect the agreement to have only a limited short-term effect on ammonia trade, with significant gains for U.S. exporters unlikely before 2027. From then on, producers who can verify lower plant-level carbon emissions than the default CBAM values may qualify for reduced carbon charges, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the European market. EU member states are expected to approve the legal texts for the bilateral agreement by the end of June.

Source: Argus Media

What to know about EU ammonia trade policy

India’s fertilizer subsidy program faces increasing fiscal pressure as import costs, affected by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, push procurement prices to multi-year highs. This highlights the strain on the country’s fixed-price fertilizer policy.

According to Agro Spectrum India, the government recently secured a major urea import tender at landed prices of about $959 per metric ton on the east coast and $935 per metric ton on the west coast. A separate tender for diammonium phosphate (DAP) was concluded at $935 per metric ton for the east coast and $930 per metric ton for the west coast. Despite these higher procurement costs, DAP continues to be sold to farmers at approximately 1,350 rupees ($15.70) per 50-kilogram bag under India’s Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) program.

India consumes about 40 million metric tons of urea annually, making it one of the world’s largest fertilizer markets. The country imports approximately 25% to 26% of its urea needs and depends on overseas sources for about 85% of the natural gas used in domestic urea production. This reliance leaves the sector highly exposed to global energy and fertilizer market fluctuations.

The government has budgeted 1.71 trillion rupees (about $19.9 billion) for fertilizer subsidies in fiscal year 2026-27. However, analysts warn that actual spending may significantly exceed this amount as the gap between import costs and regulated retail prices widens. In response, officials have expanded fertilizer procurement from Russia, Morocco, and Canada using alternative shipping routes around the Cape of Good Hope and increased domestic urea production by an estimated 23% through emergency natural gas purchases. India began the Kharif planting season with urea inventories up 10.7% year over year and DAP stocks more than doubling. Maintaining these supply levels is expected to further increase the government’s subsidy burden.

Source: Agro Spectrum India

Scientists have developed a chloroplast genome editing technique that significantly improves photosynthesis and plant growth by introducing precise changes to the Rubisco enzyme, which is a key but relatively inefficient protein involved in plant carbon fixation. The research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrated that targeted edits increased photosynthetic performance, biomass production, and water-use efficiency in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings highlight a potential pathway for developing more productive crops under future climate conditions.

By employing chloroplast base-editing technology, the researchers introduced single amino acid substitutions into the Rubisco large subunit without incorporating foreign DNA into the plant genome. Two specific mutations, M309I and D397N, enhanced the enzyme’s catalytic activity, allowing plants to assimilate more carbon under both current and projected elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. The edited plants exhibited increased shoot and root size, expanded leaf area, and higher seed yields while maintaining normal Rubisco and chlorophyll content.

These findings address a longstanding challenge in plant biotechnology. Although Rubisco is central to photosynthesis, its relatively slow catalytic rate has limited crop productivity for decades. Previous attempts to redesign or replace the enzyme often disrupted its assembly or reduced plant growth. In contrast, this study demonstrates that small, targeted modifications to the existing Rubisco gene can enhance its performance while preserving normal plant development.

The researchers also observed that the modified plants achieved higher intrinsic water-use efficiency, as photosynthesis increased without necessitating greater stomatal opening. Cryo-electron microscopy revealed that the mutations altered the flexibility of regions surrounding Rubisco’s active site, offering new insights into how subtle structural changes can improve enzyme function.

The study authors note that the targeted amino acid positions are highly conserved across many agricultural crops, indicating that this approach could be broadly applicable beyond Arabidopsis. As atmospheric CO₂ concentrations continue to rise, Rubisco variants with faster catalytic rates may enable crops to maintain productivity while using water more efficiently under increasingly challenging growing conditions.

Because the chloroplast editing process does not leave foreign DNA in the final plants after breeding, the researchers suggest that this technology could circumvent certain regulatory barriers associated with conventional genetically modified crops in countries that recognize gene-edited, transgene-free plants under emerging non-GMO frameworks.

Source: Nature Communications

Fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are unlikely to resume normal levels immediately, even if the United States and Iran reach a lasting ceasefire. A backlog of vessels, higher war-risk insurance costs, and continued security concerns will likely disrupt maritime trade for an extended period.

The Strait of Hormuz has been closed to commercial shipping since late February, after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran led Tehran to block the passage. According to Kpler, the route typically handles 30–35% of global seaborne urea trade and 20–30% of ammonia shipments. Approximately 515 vessels remain anchored or stalled in the region. Shipping executives and traders told Bloomberg that clearing the backlog will take months, as mine-clearing operations continue and insurers are unlikely to reduce war-risk premiums, which have increased tenfold since before the conflict.

The disruption intensified on June 20 when Iran announced a renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Israel of violating the Islamabad memorandum of understanding through military operations in Lebanon. U.S. Central Command rejected the claim, but vessel traffic remains sharply limited. Market participants expect fertilizer prices to stay elevated through the Northern Hemisphere fall application season, with a significant recovery in Gulf fertilizer exports unlikely before 2027.

Source: Bloomberg

GSR Solutions advocates for nutrient recovery from organic waste as a complement to conventional fertilizer production. The company argues that capturing nitrogen and phosphorus from livestock manure, food waste, anaerobic digestate, and other organic residuals can reduce nutrient runoff and expand the supply of crop nutrients.

In a company perspective published in May, Founder and CEO Anju Krivov stated that agriculture will continue to depend on various fertilizer sources, including synthetic, organic, biological, mined, and recovered nutrients, to meet rising global food demand. The company notes that nutrients in organic residuals can become environmental liabilities when they enter water bodies rather than being returned to agricultural use.

According to GSR Solutions, nutrient recovery technologies can convert nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich waste streams into fertilizers suitable for agriculture. The company states that recovered nutrients are intended to complement, not replace, existing fertilizer sources and can support broader nutrient stewardship while adding value to agricultural and food-processing byproducts.

The company notes that nutrient management technologies such as composting, solids separation, struvite recovery, ammonia capture, and filtration are already in use. GSR states that the effectiveness of these methods depends on aligning technologies with specific feedstocks, regulations, economics, and market needs. The company adds that recovered nutrients must be processed into standardized fertilizer products with consistent nutrient content, handling, and labeling to achieve broad adoption by growers.

GSR Solutions states that its technology recovers nitrogen and phosphorus from organic waste streams produced by dairy and livestock operations, anaerobic digestion facilities, food processors, municipalities, and other sources. Through its NutriHarvest platform, the company aims to connect recovered nutrient products with agricultural markets, providing an additional outlet for nutrients from digestate and other biological waste streams.

Krivov stated that nutrient recovery addresses two related challenges by reducing nutrient losses to waterways and increasing the availability of fertilizer products for agriculture.

The U.S. litigation over the herbicide paraquat is entering a critical phase, with nearly 6,700 lawsuits consolidated in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3004) in the Southern District of Illinois and the first California state court trial scheduled for March 1, 2027. The lawsuits have become one of the largest product liability cases involving agricultural chemicals in recent years, raising questions about pesticide safety, worker protection, and manufacturers’ responsibility to warn users about potential health risks.

Most plaintiffs are farmers, licensed pesticide applicators, agricultural workers, landscapers, and rural residents who allege that years of exposure to paraquat caused them to develop Parkinson’s disease. The lawsuits primarily target Syngenta and Chevron, companies that manufactured or distributed paraquat-based herbicides marketed under brands including Gramoxone, Firestorm, Helmquat, and Parazone.

The defendants deny that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease and have maintained that decades of scientific reviews by regulators worldwide support the product’s continued registration when used according to label directions. The litigation remains ongoing, and no court has determined that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.

California trial expected to become a landmark case

One of the most closely watched proceedings is Anderson v. Syngenta AG et al., scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, in California’s Contra Costa County Superior Court.

According to the complaint, California walnut farmer Keith Anderson handled paraquat products between approximately 1994 and 2022 while mixing, loading, and spraying herbicides on his farm before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021. The lawsuit alleges that repeated occupational exposure through inhalation, skin contact, and incidental ingestion caused his illness.

Attorneys representing the Anderson family argue that the case could establish an important precedent for thousands of similar lawsuits pending across the United States.

“This trial will be a critical opportunity to give agricultural workers and their families their day in court,” Brent Wisner, managing partner at Wisner Baum, said in announcing the trial date.

Why paraquat remains controversial

Paraquat is one of the world’s most widely used non-selective herbicides and has been applied for decades to control weeds in crops including soybeans, cotton, corn, orchards, vineyards, and other specialty crops. Because it acts rapidly and is effective against herbicide-resistant weeds, many growers consider it an important management tool.

However, paraquat is also among the most acutely toxic herbicides if swallowed, leading the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to classify it as a Restricted Use Pesticide. Only certified applicators who complete mandatory training may purchase or apply paraquat in the United States.

Beyond concerns over acute poisoning, scientific debate has increasingly focused on whether chronic exposure may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Several epidemiological studies, including research from the federally funded Agricultural Health Study, have reported an association between occupational paraquat exposure and increased Parkinson’s disease risk. Laboratory research has also shown that paraquat can damage dopamine-producing neurons through oxidative stress mechanisms.

At the same time, regulatory agencies have reached differing conclusions regarding whether the available evidence establishes a causal relationship. The EPA has previously concluded that existing evidence does not demonstrate a clear causal link between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease, although the agency continues to review emerging scientific data as part of its pesticide registration process.

Growing regulatory and political scrutiny

The litigation comes as political and regulatory attention toward paraquat continues to increase.

Earlier this year, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency would reassess paraquat’s safety, while lawmakers in multiple states have introduced legislation seeking to ban or further restrict the herbicide.

Paraquat has already been banned or severely restricted in more than 70 countries. Nevertheless, it remains registered for agricultural use in the United States, subject to strict handling requirements.

The outcome of the ongoing litigation could influence future regulatory decisions, pesticide labeling requirements, and manufacturer disclosure obligations, regardless of whether the cases ultimately proceed to jury verdicts or are resolved through settlements.

What plaintiffs allege

Plaintiffs contend that manufacturers knew or should have known for decades that paraquat posed neurological risks and failed to adequately warn users. Attorneys involved in the litigation argue that internal company documents obtained during discovery may shed light on what manufacturers understood about the herbicide’s potential health effects.

Manufacturers have rejected those allegations, stating that paraquat has undergone extensive scientific review by regulatory authorities worldwide and remains approved for use when applied in accordance with the approved label instructions.

No jury has yet ruled on the merits of these allegations.

Potential implications for agriculture

The paraquat litigation extends well beyond the courtroom.

If plaintiffs ultimately prevail in significant numbers, the cases could reshape how agricultural chemicals are tested, monitored, and labeled in the United States. The litigation may also influence future worker safety standards, personal protective equipment requirements, and the evaluation of long-term neurological risks associated with pesticide exposure.

For growers, the lawsuits also highlight the continuing challenge of balancing effective weed management with evolving scientific research, regulatory oversight, and occupational health protections.

Understanding the U.S. paraquat lawsuits

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a major reorganization of the Foreign Agricultural Service to streamline operations, reduce facility costs, and bring support functions closer to agricultural regions. The initiative will establish a new operational support hub in Kansas City and gradually relocate much of the agency’s Washington-based domestic workforce, while core trade policy and diplomatic functions remain in Washington.

Under the plan, selected headquarters operations will move to Kansas City, and additional mission support positions will transfer to the George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville. USDA stated the phased transition will not result in workforce reductions or affect FAS personnel overseas or at U.S. agricultural diplomatic posts. Agency leadership, trade policy, market access negotiations, congressional relations, and interagency coordination will remain in Washington to support national and international trade.

Deputy Secretary Stephen A. Vaden stated the changes aim to eliminate underused facilities and modernize the department’s structure, strengthening its service to U.S. agriculture. Under Secretary Luke J. Lindberg noted that relocating support functions to the agricultural heartland will bring programs closer to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley emphasized that the agency will work closely with employees during the transition to provide support and ensure operational continuity.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has committed $600 million to Dangote Group’s $7 billion fertilizer expansion program, which aims to increase Africa’s domestic fertilizer production and enhance food security. The funds will be provided to Greenview Fertiliser Corp., Dangote’s fertilizer holding company, as part of a broader strategy to expand manufacturing in Nigeria and build a new facility in Ethiopia.

Dangote plans to increase Nigeria’s annual urea production capacity from 3 million to 9 million metric tons and build a 3 million metric ton per year urea plant in Ethiopia. These projects are expected to reduce Africa’s reliance on imported fertilizers, boost agricultural productivity, and strengthen the continent’s position in global fertilizer markets. AFC stated that the investment addresses long-term challenges such as population growth, rising food demand, climate pressures, and supply chain disruptions.

Dangote President and CEO Aliko Dangote stated that the investment marks the next phase of the company’s fertilizer growth strategy and demonstrates AFC’s ongoing support for its industrial projects. AFC President and CEO Samaila Zubairu noted that Africa consumes about 6 million metric tons of urea annually, compared to 40 million in India and 50 million in China, despite similar population sizes. He emphasized that expanding domestic fertilizer production is essential for food security, job creation, and strengthening Africa’s industrial base.

This financing extends AFC’s long-standing partnership with Dangote Group. AFC previously served as co-coordinating bank for the $3 billion syndicated financing of the Dangote Refinery and provided a $300 million senior term loan for its development. Since 2007, AFC has invested over $19 billion in 36 African countries, focusing on infrastructure, industrial development, energy, transport, logistics, and food security.

Brazil faces a sharp rise in farm auctions as financial distress spreads through its agricultural sector. Rising debt, high interest rates, lower grain prices, and volatile weather are pushing more producers into default. Reuters data show that rural property auctions have increased significantly, with troubled agricultural loans now representing nearly one-fifth of Brazil’s outstanding rural credit portfolio.

According to Brazil’s central bank, problematic rural loans—including delinquent debt, defaults, renegotiated loans, and restructured payments—have more than quadrupled in the past two years to 171.2 billion reais (approximately USD 33 billion). Distressed loans now make up 19.6% of all rural credit, up from 5.5% two years ago. Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture described the sector’s debt burden as “extremely delicate.”

The deteriorating financial situation has prompted lenders to accelerate the seizure of farmland. Auction marketplace Leilao Imovel reports that rural properties listed for auction reached 14,219 in 2025, a 30% increase from the previous year. Out-of-court foreclosure auctions nearly doubled in 2024 to 2,398 properties. While the company expanded its survey to include more auction houses, executives note that long-term data from major auctioneers indicate a clear upward trend in financial distress, especially in soybean and grain-producing regions.

The debt crisis has worsened due to increasingly severe weather events. Farmers are still recovering from the 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, and forecasts of a potential “super El Niño” raise concerns about further crop losses. Fertilizer prices have also increased following the conflict involving Iran, leading some Brazilian growers to scale back planting. Analysts warn that persistently high interest rates—Brazil’s benchmark rate has risen to 15% from 2% over five years—along with uncertain commodity markets and climate risks, are likely to keep financial pressure on producers high.

Source: Reuters

The U.K. Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has released a revised corporate net-zero standard that allows companies to include specific environmental credits and carbon-removal measures in their climate strategies. This marks one of the organization’s most significant policy changes since the introduction of its corporate framework.

Under the updated rules, companies can count market-based mitigation measures, such as sustainable aviation fuel credits and other environmental certificates, toward their net-zero strategies. Previously, SBTi required businesses to focus almost exclusively on reducing emissions within their own operations and supply chains. The nonprofit stated that the revised framework acknowledges some emissions are beyond a company’s direct control, but physical decarbonization should remain the primary objective.

The new standard permits companies to use carbon-removal technologies, such as direct air capture and reforestation projects, to neutralize residual emissions that are technically or economically impossible to eliminate. These measures may apply only from 2035 onward, after companies have taken all reasonable steps to reduce emissions through direct decarbonization.

SBTi stated that the revised framework adopts a “best-efforts” approach, requiring companies to set science-based targets, implement practical emissions reduction plans, and disclose where structural barriers limit further progress. Chief Executive David Kennedy said the standard aims to better align climate ambitions with business realities and to encourage continuous improvement rather than a one-time compliance exercise.

The organization decided not to require companies to adopt hourly electricity emissions accounting for target-setting, despite growing support from some environmental groups and academics. Instead, companies with significant electricity consumption, including technology firms, must disclose, on an hourly basis, the share of electricity matched with low-carbon power to improve transparency. SBTi also confirmed that power purchase agreements for renewable electricity will continue to help companies reduce emissions, especially where local renewable energy generation is limited.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

As corn and soybean crops develop, producers face a rapidly closing window for post-emergence herbicide applications. Crop growth stage and weed size determine both the effectiveness and legality of treatments, making timely application essential to protect yields.

Dwight Lingenfelter, a weed science extension specialist, notes that many herbicides have strict label restrictions based on crop development, harvest timing, and intended use for grain, forage, or livestock feed. While harvest interval requirements rarely affect grain production, they are important for early-harvested corn or soybean forage due to potential herbicide residue concerns.

For soybeans, glyphosate remains effective against many annual weeds in herbicide-tolerant varieties, but it offers little control of glyphosate-resistant species such as marestail, Palmer amaranth, and waterhemp. Other post-emergence herbicide groups, including ALS inhibitors, PPO inhibitors, and glufosinate-based products, control specific broadleaf weeds, though their effectiveness depends on the target species and the presence of herbicide resistance. Extension experts recommend adding residual Group 15 herbicides to post-emergence tank mixes for overlapping control of later-emerging weeds.

The guidance outlines maximum crop growth stages for many herbicides in corn and soybeans. In corn, application cutoffs range from pre-emergence to the V8 growth stage or specific plant heights, depending on the product. In soybeans, products such as Liberty Ultra, Enlist One, Engenia, Tavium, and glyphosate each have specific growth-stage and pre-harvest restrictions that must be followed to comply with label requirements.

Specialists emphasize that growers should consult herbicide labels before application, as crop stage and weed size can significantly reduce treatment effectiveness later in the season. Once weeds are too large or crops exceed labeled growth stages, chemical control options become limited, which may increase yield losses and complicate resistance management.

Source: Farm Progress

OceanWell, based in California, is working on a new way to turn seawater into drinking water that could use much less energy. As drought, population growth, and aging infrastructure strain freshwater supplies worldwide, this technology could help. The company recently reached the semifinals of the USD 119 million XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition after showing how its subsea desalination system works. By using natural ocean pressure to power reverse osmosis, the system can cut energy use by up to 40% compared to traditional desalination methods.

Traditional desalination plants pump seawater to shore and then push it through high-pressure membranes. In contrast, OceanWell’s modular subsea pods operate at depths of more than 400 meters (1,300 feet) below the ocean surface, using natural pressure to support desalination. Freshwater is sent to shore, while the leftover brine is returned to the sea, reducing environmental impact and avoiding the need for large coastal facilities. Each pod can make up to one million gallons of freshwater daily, and several pods can be grouped together to form large ‘water farms.’

OceanWell finished a successful pilot project with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District in Southern California. Now, the company is teaming up with 25 California water agencies to build Water Farm 1, a commercial project planned off the coast near Malibu. This facility could eventually provide 50 to 60 million gallons of drinking water per day starting around 2030. OceanWell is also looking at different ways to power the offshore system, such as connecting to onshore electricity or using future offshore wind power.

OceanWell’s recent momentum also includes a memorandum of understanding with France’s Eau d’Azur to evaluate deployment opportunities in the Mediterranean region, as well as support from Kubota Corporation, the European Water Tech Accelerator, and Boston Consulting Group’s Social Impact Accelerator.

According to the company, its modular subsea design aims to address several longstanding challenges associated with conventional desalination, including high energy consumption, concentrated brine discharge, extensive coastal infrastructure, and environmental impacts on marine ecosystems, while providing a scalable, climate-resilient source of freshwater for water-stressed regions.

Recycled phosphorus fertilizers derived from waste materials could help reduce agriculture’s dependence on finite phosphate rock reserves, according to a new international study that found some recycled phosphorus sources move more effectively through soil than conventional mineral fertilizers.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and partner institutions in Denmark, Brazil, Germany, Lithuania, Switzerland, and Canada used advanced analytical techniques at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to examine how phosphorus from recycled fertilizers behaves in different soil types. The study found that phosphorus recovered from sewage sludge and other recycled materials can become more available to plants over time, while conventional mineral phosphorus fertilizers typically become less available as they react with soil minerals.

Using synchrotron technology, the researchers identified the chemical forms of phosphorus present in fertilizers and soils with greater precision than conventional laboratory methods. The findings showed that phosphorus from sewage sludge-based fertilizers moved farther through the soil profile than mined phosphorus, potentially improving plant access to the nutrient. However, the researchers also found that fertilizer performance depended heavily on soil characteristics, with some soil-fertilizer combinations enhancing phosphorus availability while others restricted it.

The authors said the results highlight the need for site-specific fertilizer management rather than a one-size-fits-all approach when using recycled phosphorus products. They added that the findings represent an important step toward developing circular agricultural systems that reuse waste materials as nutrient sources, although additional field trials will be needed before practical recommendations can be made for farmers.

Source: Canadian Light Source

Electrolyzer maker Ohmium has signed a cooperation agreement with Polish developer Hynfra to support front-end engineering and design (FEED) work on large-scale green ammonia projects in Mauritania, Jordan and Oman.

Under the master cooperation agreement announced June 17, California-based Ohmium will provide proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyzer technology and technical support as the three developments advance through design. The projects are intended to produce renewable ammonia that meets the European Union’s standards for certified green hydrogen derivatives.

The largest of the three, a green ammonia plant in Oman’s Duqm zone, carries a $5.4B price tag and targets 400,000 tonnes per year of output powered by 2.6 GW of renewables. The Mauritania project near Nouakchott would produce about 100,000 tonnes per year, while the Jordan development has secured government approval and is targeting a final investment decision by September 2027.

Hynfra chief executive Tomoho Umeda said Ohmium is one of the company’s PEM electrolyzer partners, adding that it maintains at least two qualified suppliers for each technology category.

For fertilizer markets, the projects add to a growing pipeline of renewable ammonia aimed at both export to Europe and regional supply, though most remain years from production.

Source: gasworld

Atome’s flagship Villeta green fertilizer project in Paraguay faces financing uncertainty after the government abruptly revoked a presidential decree that underpinned the project’s fixed-tariff power agreement.

The UK-listed developer said a decree issued on January 16, 2026, which set electricity tariffs for a fixed-rate power purchase agreement with state utility ANDE, was canceled without notice and replaced. The new decree tasks ANDE with setting fresh investment conditions and withdraws the previously mandated tariffs, leaving the agreed power deal unsigned.

The power purchase agreement was a condition precedent for the first disbursement under the project’s financing. Atome said it is urgently engaging with ANDE, the Paraguayan government, and lenders, including the International Finance Corporation, IDB Invest, and the European Investment Bank, and warned there is no certainty it can secure revised terms acceptable to financiers.

The setback follows the project’s $665M final investment decision earlier this year. The 260,000 tonnes-per-year plant would produce low-carbon calcium ammonium nitrate using Paraguayan hydropower, with all output committed to Yara under a decade-long offtake deal.

Chair Peter Levine said the company had received assurances at the highest level that the agreed power deal would be executed before the end of June. Atome said it would update shareholders in due course.

Source: TipRanks

The European Commission has proposed a €540M relief package to help farmers cope with surging fertilizer costs, the first concrete funding step under its Fertilizer Action Plan.

The Commission will channel €300M of fresh money from the 2026 EU budget into the agricultural reserve, on top of remaining funds, bringing the total to €540M. Member states may top up the support with national funds by up to 200%, raising the potential package to €1.5B.

Alongside the direct aid, the Commission proposed targeted changes to the Common Agricultural Policy. These include a new crisis liquidity scheme under the rural development program, the option for member states to bring forward direct payments, and higher advance payment rates before October 16 to ease farm cash flow.

Fertilizer prices have climbed sharply since the Middle East conflict disrupted nitrogen supply. Nitrogen fertilizer prices in April 2026 ran 71% above the 2024 average, according to Commission data, while the bloc imports 40% to 45% of the fertilizers its farmers use.

“Now is the time to choose our food security, our strategic autonomy and our competitiveness,” said Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen.

The agricultural reserve proposal goes to member states for a vote, with final adoption scheduled by the end of July.

Source: European Commission

What to know about the EU’s €540 million fertilizer relief package