Nitrogen fertilizer shortage threatens to cut global crop yields

Re:Nitrogen fertilizer shortage threatens to cut global crop... by rightbyte on Saturday November 06, 2021 @10:48AM (#29130626)

I think the fundamental problem is that legislation preventing cartels and "guilds" in the base industry, making top of the chain industry where the money is at, where the niche company more or less has monopoly by the nature of being niche or by controlling distribution/marketplace.

So base industry is put out of business in e.g. Europe and North America and stays in protectionist countries, making them overly dependent on foreign industry.

Greater custom duty should probably solve some of the unstable base industry situation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nitrogen fertilizer shortage threatens to cut global crop... by frazbin on Saturday November 06, 2021 @01:45PM (#29132229)

So the problem is that it's the not the 15th century, and the solution is mercantilism? Color me skeptical.

Now in the 20th century there were these things called 'unions' for a while..

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Nitrogen fertilizer shortage threatens to cut global crop... by rightbyte on Saturday November 06, 2021 @02:12PM (#29132437)

You don't have to go all in Hanseatic. Just have high enough customs that local industries can compete with industries that e.g. take advantage of child labor (clothing) or industries in areas that lack environmental protection laws/costs.

Also, open price fixing could be legalized to move bargain power to manufacturing of base products.

[ Parent | on HN ]