Open Seminar "Did the Fertilizer Cartel Cause the Food Crisis"

Author: Hinnerk Gnutzmann (Catholic University of Milan)
Topic: Did the Fertilizer Cartel Cause the Food Crisis
Date and time: March 23, 16:00 - 18:00
Place: IPM Business School
Working language: English.

In the course of the seminar Hinnerk Gnutzmann presented his paper "Did the Fertilizer Cartel Cause the Food Crisis". Food prices escalated during 2007/2008 food crisis, and have remained at historically high levels since. The paper showed that an international export cartel for fertilizers was an important driver of the crisis, explaining up to 60% of the price increase. While biofuel subsidies, high energy prices and financial speculation doubtlessly put stress on food markets, the authors' findings suggested new avenues for policy in the fertilizer market to stabilize food markets.