Waste-to-fertilizer circular models offer more resilient, local alternatives to fossil-based agriculture.

Amsterdam / Accra, 31 March 2026 – Rising oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions linked to the war in Iran are sending shockwaves through global fertilizer markets, driving up prices and raising concerns for farmers and food security worldwide. Organic fertilizers produced from locally available waste streams are gaining attention as a more resilient and sustainable alternative, with circular initiatives like Safisana offering locally rooted solutions.

Since the start of the conflict, fertilizer prices have risen sharply, with increases of up to 40% reported for some products (Reuters). Fertilizer production is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, making it highly vulnerable to energy price fluctuations. Disruptions to key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-third of global fertilizer trade passes, are further tightening supply.

The impact is being felt globally, but is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where farmers depend on imports and have limited financial buffers. Analysts warn that rising input costs are likely to translate into higher food prices and increased pressure on already fragile food systems (Reuters, IFPRI, WUR).

“This crisis highlights how vulnerable our agricultural systems are when they depend on fossil-based inputs,” says Aart van den Beukel, Managing Director and Founder of Safisana. “We need to accelerate the shift toward local, circular solutions that are less exposed to global shocks.”

Organic fertilizers produced from locally available waste streams are increasingly being recognized as a more resilient and sustainable alternative. Safisana, a Dutch social enterprise operating in Ghana, is one example of this circular approach. By converting human and organic waste into safe, affordable fertilizers for local farmers, the model reduces dependence on imported inputs while strengthening local resource cycles.

Human waste, long treated solely as a public health burden, is increasingly being repositioned as a valuable resource. According to UNEP and SEI, it has the potential to generate up to 50 million tonnes of fertilizer, equivalent to roughly 25% of current global demand. Beyond agriculture, such circular systems also help address pressing sanitation and waste management challenges in rapidly growing cities.

“What has long been seen purely as waste can become part of the solution,” adds van den Beukel. “Upcycling these waste streams improves public health, creates local jobs, and reduces environmental pollution and emissions from poorly managed waste. It is a truly holistic approach.”

As fertilizer markets remain volatile, the urgency to scale locally produced, circular alternatives is set to grow rapidly, both in Europe and globally.

About Safisana
Since 2010, Safisana has worked to scale a circular resource recovery model and promote innovation and partnership to maximize the socio-economic and environmental impact. Starting with the first waste-to-resource plant in West Africa, Safisana transforms organic and human waste into valuable resources including energy and fertilizer. Find out more: www.safisana.org

We’ve been featured in the recent documentary by Kadir Van Lohuizen: The Vegan Poultry Farmer: https://theveganpoultryfarmer.com/

Asase Gyefo Organic Fertiliser: https://asasegyefo.com.gh/

Contact
Safisana Communications and Press Relations
Safisana Holding, Weesp, The Netherlands
Mail: communication@safisana.org

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