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Potash of Gold

Peter Day reports on controversial plans to dig for potash - a valuable fertiliser - underneath a national park in northern England.

As the world’s population swells, so does the demand for food. That means the race is on to find more fertiliser to improve the yield and quality of plants grown on farms everywhere.
Globally, more than 200 potash mines are in the planning stages, spurred on by a jump in the price of the valuable fertiliser.
The key ingredient in potash is potassium, one of three vital nutrients that all plants need. There are big deposits in Canada, in Russia, and along the North Sea coast in northern England, where one company wants to build a new mine that would supply the world market for decades.
There's just one snag: the planned new mine would be in a protected area, the North York Moors National Park, where industrial developments are normally prohibited. Locals are taking sides for and against, in a dispute that has global implications. Peter Day reports.
Producer: Mike Wendling

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 9 May 2013 03:32GMT

Contributors to this programme

Chris France

Head of Planning, North York Moors National Park

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Chris Fraser

Managing Director and chief executive officer, Sirius Minerals

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Chris Hadley

owner, Hadley’s Fish Restaurant

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Tom Chadwick

chairman, North York Moors Association

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Carl Allen

potash mining manager, Boulby Mine

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Julie Borrowdale

chief finance officer, Cleveland Potash

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Michel Prud’homme, director of production and international trade service, International Fertilizer Association

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 4 May 2013 01:32GMT
  • Sat 4 May 2013 07:32GMT
  • Sun 5 May 2013 18:32GMT
  • Wed 8 May 2013 23:32GMT
  • Thu 9 May 2013 03:32GMT

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