Trinidad & Tobago Feeds The World

The following article was curated from the National Gas Company website titled: How a Small Island In The Caribbean Is Feeding The World. It is being shared here to provide another perspective on the same topic.  

You can read the original article HERE

Trinidad and Tobago, a picturesque Caribbean nation with a population of 1.5 million, harbors a surprising secret that belies its size. Despite its compact footprint, the country occupies a noteworthy position in the global food chain by serving as a key player in the production and export of ammonia.

 

Renowned as an ammonia production hub, Trinidad and Tobago boasts an impressive array of 11 world-scale ammonia production plants, collectively wielding a substantial capacity of 5.2 million tonnes annually. This significant production capacity propels the nation into the upper echelons of global ammonia exporters, holding its ground among industry giants like China, Russia, India, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.

 

Ammonia, a compound composed of nitrogen and hydrogen, holds immense importance as a primary raw material in the manufacture of fertilizers. Derived from ammonia, nitrogenous fertilizers are indispensable for enhancing soil fertility and fostering robust plant growth. Trinidad's substantial ammonia output plays a pivotal role in sustaining the global fertilizer industry, thereby supporting agricultural endeavors on a global scale.

 

In the year 2021, Trinidad and Tobago stamped its authority in the realm of nitrogenous fertilizers, exporting a noteworthy $748 million worth of these vital agricultural inputs. This feat secured the nation's position as the 15th largest exporter of nitrogenous fertilizers globally. The primary destinations for these exports included the United States, Colombia, France, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.

 

The global impact of nitrogen, as facilitated by fertilizers derived from Trinidad's ammonia production, is profound, particularly in ensuring food security. The advent and widespread adoption of nitrogenous fertilizers have been instrumental in significantly amplifying global food production. Though quantifying the exact number of individuals nourished by nitrogenous fertilizers is challenging, estimates converge around 40% to 50% of the global population, which has burgeoned from 1.6 billion in the early 20th century to nearly 7.8 billion today.