Farmers Turn to Manure, Even Human Urine, as Fertilizer Costs Rise

Farmers are increasingly searching for alternatives to conventional nitrogen fertilizers amid supply disruptions and rising prices, Bloomberg News reported.

Some farmers are returning to traditional inputs in the face of surging fertilizer prices.

English farmer James Mills said he began exploring substitutes, including poultry manure, after geopolitical tensions disrupted fertilizer supplies.

About one-third of globally traded urea fertilizer comes from the Gulf region, making prices highly sensitive to disruptions.

With concerns surrounding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, fertilizer prices have surged, pushing growers to consider unconventional solutions to protect crop yields.

Some farmers are returning to traditional inputs such as manure, while others are testing waste-based and biological products.

French startup Toopi Organics, for example, converts human urine collected from schools and festivals into bacteria-based agricultural products designed to support plant growth.

The company said sales have increased since geopolitical tensions escalated.