The Moroccan subsoil is the object of all covetousness. It is home to a real treasure: 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves, essential for the production of food fertilizers, are found there.
Could Morocco be the superman of global food security? This is quite possible given the current context: global reserves of phosphate, a mineral essential for the production of DNA, the formation of bones and teeth, as well as the creation of food fertilizers, raise concerns. The latest annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, held in Marrakech from October 9 to 15, highlighted the crucial importance of the phosphate supply chain for food security, reports BFM TV, October 24, 2023.
Phosphates, essential resources for the production of food fertilizers, cannot be synthesized artificially, and their extraction is limited. Chakib Jenane of the World Bank underlines to BFM TV that “fertilizers are responsible for around 50% of our global food production”. To keep food production in line with population growth in Africa, it is imperative to increase the supply of fertilizers, whether organic or chemical.
$1,000 per ton of diammonium phosphate
The cost of food fertilizer has recently exploded, reaching nearly $1,000 per ton for diammonium phosphate in 2022. This price increase is attributable to sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus in response to the invasion of Ukraine, as well as trade restrictions put in place by China as part of its “zero Covid” policy. Although prices have fallen this year, this cannot be explained by renewed development. Chakib Jenane recalls that the mineral market is inherently volatile, but the recent energy cost crisis has had a direct impact on fertilizer prices. Farmers might be tempted to reduce the use of fertilizers due to their high cost, but this would lead to a decrease in crop production and quality, thereby increasing food prices.
Morocco plays a central role in this issue, as it is home to the world’s largest fertilizer producer, the Moroccan group OCP. According to Ilias El Fali, OCP operations director, Africa holds the key to guaranteeing global food security. Currently, Africa uses only a tenth of the world’s fertilizers, with average agricultural yields a quarter of the global average. Additionally, 60% of the world’s arable land is in Africa, giving the continent considerable potential to not only ensure its own food security but also feed the rest of the world.
