Policy Updates: U.S. fertilizer lobby announces push to accelerate growth of domestic production – Pro Farmer

Report on U.S. Fertilizer Production and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is advocating for a strategic expansion of domestic fertilizer production, including potash, phosphate, and nitrogen. This initiative aims to mitigate global supply chain vulnerabilities and directly supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) by enhancing food security through a stable supply of essential crop nutrients. The call for action addresses rising costs and supply uncertainties stemming from international tariffs and geopolitical conflicts.

Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Growth

TFI has proposed several key actions for the U.S. government to foster a resilient domestic fertilizer industry, aligning with multiple SDGs. These recommendations include:

1. Establish a Coordinated National Policy: A USDA-led strategy would create a public-private partnership (SDG 17) to ensure a stable agricultural supply chain, which is fundamental to achieving SDG 2.
2. Fast-Track Permitting for Infrastructure: Accelerating the approval process for new plants and mines supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and stimulates local economies through job creation, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
3. Appoint a Dedicated Fertilizer Economist: This would provide specialized oversight to manage market dynamics and support stable food production systems (SDG 2).
4. Designate Phosphate as a Critical Mineral: This declaration would prioritize domestic phosphate production, securing a vital component for U.S. agriculture and reinforcing industrial resilience (SDG 9).

Enhancing Food Security and Agricultural Resilience (SDG 2)

A strengthened domestic fertilizer sector offers significant benefits for achieving sustainable agriculture and ensuring zero hunger. Key impacts for agricultural producers include:

• Supply Chain Stability: Reduced reliance on imports insulates the domestic food system from geopolitical disruptions and market volatility.
• Predictable Input Costs: Greater domestic capacity can lead to more stable pricing for farmers, supporting their economic viability and ensuring consistent food production.
• Reduced Vulnerability to Global Shocks: Onshoring production mitigates risks associated with international tariffs and conflicts, creating a more resilient agricultural sector capable of meeting national food needs.

Challenges to Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG 12)

The initiative’s success is contingent upon addressing key dependencies and policy frameworks to ensure production is sustainable. Critical considerations include:

• Energy Policy: The production of nitrogen-based fertilizers is heavily reliant on natural gas. This highlights the need for energy policies that balance affordability with the long-term goals of sustainable production (SDG 12).
• Trade Policy: Clear and supportive trade rules are essential for managing the resources and technologies required for a robust and responsible domestic fertilizer industry, ensuring production patterns are sustainable.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s central theme is ensuring a stable and affordable supply of fertilizer, a critical input for modern agriculture. By addressing the stability of crop nutrients, the article directly connects to the goal of ending hunger, achieving food security, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The push to “expand domestic production” and “fast-track permitting for new plants and mines” implies creating jobs, stimulating industrial activity, and fostering economic growth within the U.S. This aligns with the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The call to build new fertilizer plants and mines is a direct appeal for developing resilient infrastructure and promoting industrialization. The focus on a “coordinated national policy” and addressing supply chain vulnerabilities speaks to building a more robust domestic industrial base.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The recommendation to declare “phosphate a critical mineral” points towards the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. Ensuring a stable domestic supply chain is a component of creating more sustainable production patterns by reducing reliance on volatile global markets.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production…” The article’s focus on creating a “more stable supply” of fertilizer and reducing “disruptions from overseas or geopolitical shocks” directly supports the development of resilient agricultural practices by securing essential inputs for farmers.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” Expanding domestic fertilizer production represents a move towards industrial diversification and technological upgrading within the U.S. economy, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening a key sector.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.2: “Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product…” The core proposal to “expand domestic production” of fertilizers is a direct call for industrialization that would increase the industry’s contribution to the national economy.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The specific recommendation to “declare phosphate a critical mineral for U.S. agriculture” is a policy step towards the strategic and sustainable management of a finite natural resource essential for food production.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

While the article does not mention official SDG indicator codes, it implies several qualitative and quantitative measures of progress:

1. For SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):

   • Implied Indicator: Stability and predictability of fertilizer costs. The article states that greater domestic production could lead to “more predictable input costs,” which can be measured through price volatility indexes for key nutrients like potash, phosphate, and nitrogen.

2. For SDG 8 & 9 (Economic Growth & Industry):

   • Implied Indicator: Level of domestic fertilizer production. An increase in the volume of domestically produced potash, phosphate, and nitrogen would be a direct measure of progress.
   • Implied Indicator: Number of new production facilities. The “fast-track permitting for new plants and mines” suggests that the number of new facilities approved and constructed would serve as a key performance indicator.

3. For SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):

   • Implied Indicator: Policy and regulatory changes. The formal declaration of “phosphate a critical mineral” by the U.S. government would be a clear, measurable policy action indicating progress towards strategic resource management.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: profarmer.com