Agriculture relies on fossil fuels. It’s costing us.

Fertilizer costs have surged after the Iran conflict raised natural-gas prices and closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting a third of global seaborne fertilizer trade. Urea prices peaked above $850 per metric ton—80% higher than pre-war levels—and may stay elevated through 2028 due to damaged ammonia plants in the Middle East and Russia. Microbial fertilizer firms Pivot Bio and Switch Bioworks claim their products are cost-competitive and immune to gas-price spikes, offering farmers a potential price-lock alternative.