Joint Extraordinary Specialized Technical Committee (STC) Session of the STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE), together with the STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs Economic Planning and Integration, STC on Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals on Continental Response to Fertilizer Market Disruption and Food System Risk Arising from Geopolitical Conflict in the Middle East.

INVITATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA

A Joint Virtual Extra-Ordinary Specialized Technical Committee (STC) Session on Continental Response to Fertilizer Market Disruption and Food System Risk Arising from Escalating Geopolitical Conflict

What:                 The African Union Commission, through its Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), and  Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM) is organizing a virtual Joint Extra-Ordinary Specialized Technical Committee (STC) Session of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE), Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, and  Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals on Continental Response to Fertilizer Market Disruption and Food System Risk Arising from Escalating Geopolitical Conflict.

When:         20 – 22 May 2026

Time:            09H00-17H00

Where:        Addis Ababa, AU Headquarters (Virtual)

                        (Link will be shared in due course)

Objective:

The objective of the joint extraordinary STC Meeting will be:

• Assess the impact of the Middle East conflict on fertilizer supply, prices, and trade in Africa.
• Review existing national and regional response measures.
• Identify emergency actions to improve fertilizer availability and affordability.
• Propose medium‑ and long‑term strategies for regional fertilizer manufacturing and soil health.
• Align agricultural productivity goals with fiscal, monetary, trade, and industrial policies.
• Formulate recommendations for the Executive Council and the Assembly.

Expected outputs

The key outputs of the Joint Extraordinary STC include:

• A joint ministerial assessment of the fertilizer crisis.
• Policy recommendations on emergency response measures and market stabilization.
• Strategic guidance on regional fertilizer manufacturing and value chains.
• Recommendations on sustainable financing mechanisms.
• Clear follow‑up actions for the African Union Commission.

Context:

Africa’s agrifood systems face escalating, interconnected risk from the US-Israel-Iran conflict that is disrupting global energy and fertilizer markets, shipping, insurance, and price stability. With over 80% of Africa’s fertilizer supply imported, even short interruptions can quickly cause fertilizer shortages and price spikes, reducing application by smallholder farmer, lowering yields, increasing food import costs, and worsening food insecurity and social vulnerability.

Lessons from the 2008 food and fertilizer crisis and the 2021–2022 global fertilizer shock demonstrates that fragmented, country-specific responses amplify price volatility, deepen supply inequities, and worsen competition for already constrained global stocks (World Bank 2012; FAO et al. 2011; UNCTAD 2009; FAO 2022; FAO & WTO 2022). A unified, harmonized, AUC-led continental response is therefore not only urgent but strategically essential, timely and cost-effective.

In this regard, the AUC would be organizing this Extraordinary Joint STC of ARDWE, FMEI, and TTIM to deliberate and endorse a harmonised continental action to mitigate fertilizer market disruption and related food security risks.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Janet Edeme – Head of Division, Rural Development/ Ag Head of Agriculture and Food Security Division Directorate (ARD) African Union Commission Email: EdemeJ@africanunion.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr.  Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate; AU Commission Tel: 0911-630631; Email: molalett@africanunion.org