EU Seeks to Shield Farmers From War-Induced Fertilizer Shock

The European Union is considering stockpiling fertilizers and providing relief for farmers as part of measures aimed at tackling soaring costs caused by the Middle East conflict.

The European Commission, the bloc’s regulatory arm, is due to unveil a draft strategy for fertilizers next week after the sector witnessed a second surge in prices in less than five years. The bloc depends heavily on imports of natural gas and ammonia to make fertilizers, while persistently high energy prices are also raising production costs.

The price surge risks forcing farmers to reduce fertilizers use, threatening to undermine crop quality and yields, ...