Heitkamp: Global Food Security Begins with Natural Gas
The U.S. has the world’s largest proven reserves, but a lack of infrastructure is hindering production.
The United Nations World Food Program has called 2022 a “year of unprecedented hunger.” It claims that as many as 828 million people around the world go to bed hungry every day and 50 million are “teetering on the edge of famine.” The WFP expects the rate of global hunger to rise even further because of economic and inflationary pressures, including a fertilizer crisis caused by natural-gas supply shortages.
The U.S. can again serve as the beacon of light for a suffering world by putting aside political games and investing in natural-gas infrastructure to strengthen global security and help solve world hunger.
Most don’t realize the vital role natural gas plays in food security. It serves as the core ingredient in the production of ammonia, as well as the power source to produce fertilizer during manufacturing. In fact, 70% of the cost of nitrogen fertilizers is attributable to the cost of natural gas.
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Ms. Heitkamp, a Democrat, served as a U.S. senator from North Dakota, 2013-19. She is a leadership council co-chairman for Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future. WSJ.com
