Main points
- British farmers are using drones to spray seaweed as an alternative to expensive mineral fertilizers, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
- Rising prices for synthetic fertilizers due to logistical problems and instability in the Middle East are stimulating farmers to look for new solutions to maintain yields.
Fertilizer from algae / Photo BBC
Rising fertilizer prices are forcing farmers to look for new solutions to maintain yields and profitability. In the UK, seaweed, sprayed with drones, is increasingly being used to fertilize fields.
Expensive fertilizers force farmers to look for alternatives
British farmers are increasingly using seaweed to fertilize crops, using drones, the BBC reports. The reason for this transition was the rapid rise in the price of synthetic fertilizers, a significant part of which is imported.
Lincolnshire farmer Andrew Ward has used a new technology to fertilize winter wheat and called it a significant technological step forward.
The rise in fertilizer prices is linked to instability in the Middle East. Due to war and logistical problems, agrochemical supplies have become more expensive, which directly affects the cost of food production.
Drones help save money and work more precisely in the fields
Dairy farmer and certified drone pilot Fraser Bloor, from North Shropshire, says there has been a significant increase in orders for algae applications recently.
His drone, with a wingspan of 2.4 meters, can carry up to 50 kilograms of liquid algae in a single flight. Before applying, the drone scans and creates a map of the field, identifying areas that need more or less of the drug. According to Ward, this system helps minimize overspending and work more efficiently.
Farmers are currently facing great difficulties with profitability, so precise input of resources becomes especially important,
– the farmer notes.
Winter wheat that has been nourished in this way is commonly used to produce bread, breakfast cereals, and cookies.
War and logistics exacerbate the crisis in the fertilizer market
According to the United Nations, about a third of the world's fertilizer supplies – including urea, potassium, ammonia and phosphates – traditionally pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions to shipping in the region raise concerns about the availability of agrochemicals worldwide.
The National Farmers' Union of Great Britain acknowledges that chemical fertilizers will remain important for large-scale food production, but farmers are open to alternative solutions.
Producers of seaweed fertilizer also report a surge in demand. One processor, Dave Edwards, said that since the war began, the number of applications has increased by 20-30%.
Note: Although the use of algae as fertilizer is not a new practice, it has recently gained new momentum. Despite the debate over the impact of their collection on the marine ecosystem, proponents of the technology emphasize that natural fertilizers can become an important element of food security and reduce dependence on expensive imports.
The EU is preparing emergency aid for its farmers due to the sharp rise in fertilizer prices
The EU decided to solve the problem of fertilizer shortages at the European Commission level through centralized storage.
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The EU is considering the possibility of creating fertilizer reserves and providing financial assistance to farmers due to rising fertilizer prices caused by rising energy prices and unstable supplies.
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The European Commission plans to present a draft new fertilizer strategy, which includes market monitoring, the creation of strategic reserves, and the use of organic alternatives.
The EU could also review the rules of the emissions trading system to support fertilizer producers. Options include a slower phasing out of free allowances for companies that produce organic or low-carbon fertilizers.