Rep. Rose: US Food Producers Rely on Extended Supply Chains Abroad

Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) on NTD's Capitol Report on March 25, 2022. NTD

The United States has become “increasingly dependent” on extended supply chains of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and agrochemicals to keep modern agriculture running, resulting in food supply delays, Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) told Steve Lance, host of NTD’s Capitol Report.

“We have become, unfortunately, increasingly dependent on extended supply chains for various inputs that make agriculture work, things like fertilizer, agrochemicals, [and] other inputs that are important to the modern agricultural production complex,” stated Rose, the former Tennessee commissioner of agriculture.

He added that more thought should be given to “where our supply chains reach and who we’re relying on for key ingredients” and “key inputs that are essential to producing a reliable supply of even food for the American people and for the rest of the world.”

After more than two years of consistent supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, countries are now seeing inflated food prices and are bracing for potential shortages resulting from the compounded effect of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

One of the world’s largest fertilizer makers, Yara, announced on March 9 that the company has had to drop its production of ammonia and urea in Europe to 45 percent of capacity due to rising natural gas prices. Both ammonia and urea are key components in the production of nitrogen-based fertilizer.

“Yara will continue to monitor the situation and to the extent possible use its global production system to keep supplying customers and secure continuity in food supply chains, but curtailing production where necessary due to challenging market conditions,” the statement continued.

Regarding the looming threat of food scarcity, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on March 24 that “it’s going to be real,” and said the United States and Canada may need to increase production to avoid shortages in Europe and other places that are already struggling with food insecurity.

Biden added that the United States and its allies are in the “process of working out” a solution to food shortages, supply chain issues, and rising inflation.

The Biden administration is also urging “European countries and everyone else to end trade restrictions” on “sending food abroad.”

“Both Russia and Ukraine have been the breadbasket of Europe in terms of wheat,” Biden added, as nearly a third of the world’s wheat supply comes from Russia and Ukraine.

However, regions of Ukraine that are most productive in agricultural production were consistently under attack from Russia, according to Oleg Ustenko, economic adviser to the president of Ukraine.

Autumn Spredemann contributed to this report.