Cold-plasma, lightning-style fertilizer draws interest as Strait of Hormuz disruptions squeeze supplies for Canadian farms

Wars in the Middle East have tightened global fertilizer supplies after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was curtailed and Iranian production was damaged, leaving Canadian farmers facing shortages and sharply higher prices. Some farms are testing on-site fertilizer made with cold plasma that mimics lightning, but the technology remains in early trials without peer-reviewed validation. The disruption is lifting input costs for fertilizer-dependent staple crops such as wheat and soybeans.