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Brazil Looks to Morocco Amid Dire Fertilizer Shortage

The Brazilian minister of agriculture organized a meeting with ten Arab countries in its urgent search for fertilizer.

ALT

Brazil met with Morocco and nine other Arab countries as it faces a dire shortage of fertilizer stocks as its main suppliers Russia and Belarus face sanctions and reduced exports. Brazilian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Tereza Cristina organized a meeting this Thursday with several Arab countries in order to find new sources of fertilizers amid a severe disruption in fertilizer supplies from Eastern Europe.

The conflict in Ukraine is rapidly accelerating a trend that has long been anticipated. Morocco’s role as gatekeeper to most of the world’s phosphate is set to boost its international standing and domestic economy amid rapidly growing demand.

The conflict in Ukraine is having a severe impact on Brazilian agriculture, as the country depends primarily on Russian and Belarussian fertilizer exports. The two countries face heavy sanctions from the West and have limited certain exports in retaliation.

In response to a looming crisis for local farmers, Brazil’s Agriculture Minister Cristina invited ambassadors of ten Arab countries to discuss new fertilizer supplies, with Morocco as the most obvious candidate as it holds over 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves.

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