AI6YR BenMar 5

The Guardian: ‘A big burden for farmers’: Gulf shipping crisis threatens food price shock

Iranian blockade of the strategic strait of Hormuz is hitting global fertiliser supply chain

"...Between a quarter and a third of the global trade in the raw materials for fertiliser passes through the strait, as well as a fifth of seaborne crude oil and gas.

The de facto closure of the strait is affecting the transport of ammonia and nitrogen, which are key ingredients in many synthetic fertiliser products...."

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/05/big-burden-for-farmers-gulf-shipping-crisis-threatens-food-price-shock

#inflation #foodsupply #foodsecurity #fertilizer

‘A big burden for farmers’: Gulf shipping crisis threatens food price shock

Iranian blockade of the strategic strait of Hormuz is hitting global fertiliser supply chain

The Guardian
Show threadAI6YR BenMar 5
*** I wonder where I can get some cheap nitrogen for my garden. 🤪
Show threadDa_GutMar 5
@ai6yr I know that you are being tongue in cheek here… but - coffee grounds. Starbucks or any coffee shop or gas station
They are not acidic. At least the hot brew grounds are not. Cold brew I do not know.
Show threadGabriel N
@Da_Gut @ai6yr I understand that coffee grounds — at least from expresso machines— should be composted first.
Mar 5 at 3:31pmIceCubesApp
Show threadAI6YR BenMar 5
@wtrmt @Da_Gut I frequently dump Starbucks coffee grounds in the garden, whenever I happen to be near a Starbucks with available grounds. I don't drive much now (trying to minimize my CO2 footprint), so only if I have to run somewhere and happen to be near one and check. Although I did find the local store within bicycling range where I can definitely make regular runs that way.
Show threadMCDuncanLabMar 5

@ai6yr @wtrmt @Da_Gut

This summer, I had such a dilemma, I wanted to boycott Starbucks to support the union, but it is the best place for coffee grounds.

In the end, I boycotted, and they closed that shop because it was one of the ones with union strikers.

Show threadAI6YR BenMar 5
@MCDuncanLab @wtrmt @Da_Gut So, I don't buy any coffee there, I just mooch the grounds. 🤔
Show threadMCDuncanLabMar 5

@ai6yr @wtrmt @Da_Gut

I always buy something since the folks usually package the grounds up for me immediately when I ask.

Show threadDa_GutMar 5
@wtrmt @ai6yr you will have to gauge this by experience.
In North Georgia with the nice heavy red clay soil then no it is not needed.
The earthworms will pull it right down into the soil and it will melt away.
In Maine, even with invasive earthworms, it would probably benefit from it.
To make a noticeable difference, it will require a lot of coffee grounds.
Over three years I dumped over 2000 pounds on to 1/3 of an acre in Georgia. It made a huge difference.