interesting post ganalane. i havent mentioned this on the boards, but i heard an interesting radio documentary about a year ago. It discussed how soil is complex, full of complex nutrients. They expressed concern about how the fertilizer that is used has little of this complexity. It helps plants grow, but those plants do not absorb the complex nutrients they ought to.

I am also concerned about the ethics of hoping that fertilizer prices go up...and i am concerned about a colonial type relationship between Western (and/or chinese) investors and africa. I actually don't know if my concerns are legit, but i have chosen to close my eyes.