Geopolitical tensions disrupt global fertilizer supply chains, boosting African producers like Dangote
Original framing: “Dangote Fertiliser Says It’s Seeing Surge in Orders on Iran War” — Bloomberg
In contrast to the Western model of industrial agriculture, many non-Western societies have developed agroecological systems that prioritize soil health and biodiversity. These systems are often more resilient to geopolitical shocks and could offer viable alternatives to the current supply chain model.
The surge in demand for Dangote Fertiliser amid the US-Israel war on Iran is not an isolated economic event but a manifestation of deeper structural issues in global agricultural systems.
Colonial-era trade dependencies, the marginalization of indigenous farming knowledge, and the dominance of Western agribusiness models have left African nations vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions. To build resilience, a multi-pronged approach is needed: investing in regional production, promoting agroecology, diversifying trade, and centering the voices of smallholder farmers. Historical patterns show that self-reliance in food production is possible, as seen in the Green Revolution of the 1960s, but only when supported by inclusive policies and cross-cultural knowledge exchange.