From the FT: Anglo American’s high-stakes bet on polyhalite fertiliser – A new way to feed the world

Beneath England's North York Moors, Anglo American aims to revolutionise agriculture with the Woodsmith project. Extracting polyhalite, a fertiliser dubbed "gold dust," the ambitious 37km tunnel connects a Teesside port and is set to feed a growing world population. Critics doubt the unproven market for polyhalite, citing oversupply risks and its low potassium content. However, Anglo touts Poly4's advantages, claiming increased crop yields and potential benefits for organic farming. As the FTSE 100 company strives for a green portfolio, the success of this transformative venture remains uncertain, hinging on global market demand and unproven product acceptance.

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Anglo American's high-stakes bet on a new way to feed the world

By Harry Dempsey in Yorkshire and Susannah Savage in London

The mining group plans to invest $9bn in a Yorkshire mine that will produce a fertiliser mineral for which there is currently little demand

About 340 metres beneath the North York Moors in England, a huddle of miners are gathered in a cavern soaked with groundwater. A day earlier, they had used 100kg of explosives to blast through rock and access a tunnel leading to the coast.

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