The research published in Nature Food estimates that the deterioration reaches higher levels in some regions worldwide, including Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Sahara territories in Africa.

“Potassium is critical to maintaining the crop yields that keep the world fed, and its depletion poses a significant threat to the food security of millions of people,” Professor Mark Maslin of University London College pointed out.

Another co-author of the research, Peter Alexander, PhD. from the University of Edinburgh, considered that the issue is gaining international relevance due to the volatility of prices and the upturn in fertilizer supplies, to the detriment of the most vulnerable.

According to the source, production is highly concentrated, since only 12 countries dominate the world market of almost 14 billion euros per year in potassium fertilizers, while only four countries account for almost 80% of the mineral’s raw production.

Researchers stated that concentration and vulnerability of the market require the establishment of national and international policies or regulations governing the sustainable management of potassium, similar to the systems that are being established for other vital crop nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous.

By 2021, global potash consumption reached 45 million tons, and global production is expected to reach about 69 million tons by 2025, with new projects coming online in Belarus, Canada, Russia, Australia, Eritrea and the United Kingdom.

However, potash mining generates millions of tons of waste, composed mainly of sodium chloride salts, which can salinize soil and water tables, damaging plants and animals, the study warns.

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