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

Fertilizer prices have surged in 2026 due to rising fossil-fuel costs, particularly natural gas, which is essential for producing ammonia—a key ingredient in most fertilizers.

Natural gas serves two roles in fertilizer production: it provides the energy needed for chemical reactions and is directly used as a raw material.

When natural-gas prices spike, as they have because of the war in Iran, fertilizer prices follow closely.

For example, the price of urea, the most commonly used fertilizer, reached $850 per metric ton in April 2026, which is 80% higher than before the conflict and the highest level since 2022.

This price volatility is part of a broader trend affecting industries worldwide, as fossil fuels underpin much of the global economy, from transportation to manufacturing.

Fertilizer production is also a significant source of greenhouse-gas emissions, contributing about 2% of the global total.