Fertiliser, Fuel & Food Security: The Energy Lock-In Problem

22 Sept 2026
Auditorium
Main Stage
  • How exposed is global food production to energy volatility, and how quickly does a price shock become a production crisis?
  • Can fertiliser dependency realistically be reduced at scale, and do the risks look the same across Europe, Africa, and import-dependent regions?
  • What happens to food systems when input supply is disrupted, and who absorbs the damage first?
  • Should fertiliser and energy inputs be treated as strategic infrastructure in the same way critical minerals and energy networks are?  
  • Can the industry transition from fossil fuel-based synthetic inputs to more sustainable alternatives – circular, biological, and low-carbon?
Host
Susannah Savage
Susannah Savage, Commodities Correspondent - FINANCIAL TIMES
Speakers
Patrick Heffer
Patrick Heffer, Deputy Director General - INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER ASSOCIATION
Willis Thomas
Willis Thomas, Head of Fertilizers - CRU