Work

The Potash Trilemma: Geopolitics, Market Dynamics, and Global Food Security

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Potash is essential for plant growth and global food production. However, its distribution and access are uneven, creating significant economic and geopolitical challenges. We here explore the complexities of the global potash market, focusing on the impacts of mine location, ownership, and the oligopolistic structure of the market on food security. Through historical analysis and the development of potash vulnerability indexes, the research highlights the risks associated with concentrated production and the implications for countries with varying levels of economic power. The findings underscore the potential for market manipulation and the exacerbation of food insecurity, particularly in lower‐income nations. As potash resources become scarcer, strategic management by producers may lead to higher prices, further widening global inequalities. This study suggests a reevaluation of the current situation to address these emerging threats to global food security.

Source: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

DOI: 10.1002/sae2.70050

Authors: Joan Rodeja, Fernando Coello, Jordi Sardans, Josep Penuelas

Institutions: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centre for Research on Ecology and Forestry Applications, Global Ecology Unit CREAF-CSIC-UAB

Language: English

Topic: Economics of Agriculture and Food Markets

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, No poverty

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,640