The agricultural fertilizer situation in Jordan goes beyond being merely an industrial product; it forms a cornerstone in implementing the economic modernization vision (2022-2033) and a fundamental building block for achieving sustainable food security amidst the growing geopolitical crises that currently engulf the world and their impact on supply chains. The importance of the fertilizer industry in the economic modernization vision is highlighted through its position at the intersection of two strategic sectors, agriculture and industry and mining, and two intertwined sectors, energy and environment, making the integration of these sectors necessary for achieving sustainable development and enhancing the production capacity of the national economy.
Globally, the fertilizer sector faces increasing challenges, notably supply chain disruptions, rising shipping and insurance costs, and energy price fluctuations that directly affect production costs. Additionally, the reliance of certain production inputs like ammonia on external sources has increased their vulnerability to geopolitical changes.
Jordan possesses a unique competitive advantage that enables it to maximize the added value of the agricultural sector, empower farmers, and increase industrial exports thanks to its abundant natural resources of phosphate and potash. The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) produces Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) with a production capacity of 2 million tons annually, while the Arab Potash Company (APC) ranks as the world’s eighth-largest potash producer and exports its products to around 50 countries.
Fertilizers are an essential element in modern agriculture as they provide plants with key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and micronutrients like zinc and magnesium, which reflect on crop production in terms of quantity and quality. According to the Agriculture Law No. (13) and its amendments for the year 2015, Article (2) defines fertilizers (“amendments”) as "materials that can be added to the soil to change its properties or to the plant to enhance its growth and materials that serve as mediums for propagation or germination, whether chemical, organic, or biological." From this law, according to Article (20), arise the instructions for “registration, production, import, analysis, and sale of agricultural amendments and plant growth regulators and their amendments number 6/z for the year 2021", which contain related definitions, conditions for registering fertilizers at the Ministry of Agriculture, import and trading conditions, manufacturing, as well as the necessary tests and sample analysis to verify compliance with the approved standard specification number 2396 /2024 at the Standards and Metrology Organization, and penalties for the trading of unregistered or non-compliant fertilizers as fertilizers or amendments are registered according to national legislation based on international standards, supervised by a national committee that includes government and private stakeholders in the file and in cooperation with laboratories from the National Center for Agricultural Research, laboratories of the Royal Scientific Society, laboratories of the Jordan Valley Authority, and laboratories of the Arab Center for Engineering Studies, most of which are internationally accredited in their analysis and compliance.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there are about (598) specialized fertilizer establishments, including chemical and fermented organic fertilizer companies and factories. About (160) factories produce a full self-sufficiency of phosphate and potash fertilizers, while approximately (411) companies import, distributing their imports between nitrogenous, compound fertilizers, trace element fertilizers, and growth regulators. The Ministry of Agriculture through the Land and Water Directorate and related entities oversees the registration, trading, import, and monitoring of non-compliant fertilizers in local markets as part of a national monitoring plan where emphasis is placed on reviewing legislation, educating farmers, and developing mechanisms for registering fertilizers, market monitoring, trading, and promoting proper usage compliance.
It is worth noting that there are about (27) factories producing fermented or treated organic fertilizers amid current challenges, the importance of moving towards organic fertilizers (such as municipal compost, poultry manure, compost, industrial organic fertilizers, etc.) as a sustainable option becomes evident. It relies on recycling plant residues, which account for about 40%-50% of the main output of most crops, as well as animal residues using biotechnology involving fungi, bacteria, and algae to produce environmentally friendly fertilizers. This reduces energy dependence and minimizes environmental impact, with potential for future development as an export product.
There is an increasing need to adopt more efficient agricultural practices, through smart fertilization based on soil analysis, which helps reduce costs for farmers and achieve optimal use of natural resources. Support for scientific research and innovation is no less important, contributing to the development of advanced, environmentally friendly fertilizers, especially with the shift towards smart agriculture (Agri-4.0) that relies on modern technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Conclusion
Jordanian fertilizers, both organic and chemical, are the backbone of modern agriculture, and the Jordanian agricultural sector has strong pillars from phosphate and potash fertilizers and plans to develop nitrogen fertilizers and agricultural residues to manufacture organic fertilizers to achieve tangible local and export achievements and increase national income and food sustainability. These combined efforts are fundamental for building a strong, resilient agricultural industry and a real opportunity to enhance integration between the industrial, agricultural, environmental, and energy sectors.
