Another European fertilizer producer, Borealis AG, is reducing output and more are expected to follow as surging natural gas prices squeeze profit margins in an industry already facing tight supply. Ammonia is used to make nitrogen fertilizers, and prices are spiking as manufacturers grapple with dramatically higher costs for their main feedstock. That means added pressure on farmers. https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/europe-s-fertilizer-crisis-spreads-as-another-firm-cuts-output

More than 81 countries are exploring CBDCs according to The Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank, tracks the progress of various CBDC projects throughout the world. At least 5 Caribbean nations have already launched a digital currency, and 14 others are in the pilot phase with the central bank of Bhutan announcing most recently that they will partner with the cryptocurrency Ripple (XRP). https://www.aol.com/finance/chinas-crypto-ban-puts-spotlight-110054513.html

UK - Turkey farmers are reporting a surge in orders as families scramble to save Christmas dinner amid fears of a poultry shortage. There have been unprecedented numbers of orders for turkey, with most high-end farms reporting soaring demand compared to this time last year. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/turkey-farmers-see-250-25-surge-in-orders-amid-christmas-dinner-panic/ar-AAOQ10f?pfr=1

UK - A chilled food distributor used by Asda and Sainsbury's has gone bust threatening 400 jobs.. EVCL Chill, which delivers chilled food to the supermarket giants, has been put into administration amid a shortage of truck drivers. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/asda-sainsburys-food-distributor-goes-25074478

Canada's two largest railways may run out of grain to move and face revenue challenges in the coming year as the domestic grain crop is expected to decrease 37 per cent due to drought conditions across the Prairies despite a slight improvement in August. https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/weather/canadian-railways-could-run-out-of-grain-to-transport-due-to-drought-analyst/ar-AAOMAMt

China once again warned of the impact of skyrocketing energy prices on fertilizer supplies and signaled concern that food security could be affected. The global fertilizer market is on a tear due to extreme weather, plant shutdowns and government sanctions, hitting farmers already buckling under the strain of rising costs and stoking fears that food inflation could worsen. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-warns-food-security-energy-035319350.html

Falling temperatures in the UK and in parts of the rest of Europe, as well as falling supply from Russia via the Yamal-Europe, pushed gas prices higher. The benchmark natural gas prices in the UK and Europe jumped by another 10 percent to fresh record highs on Tuesday as energy commodities rally amid multi-year-low European gas inventories ahead of the winter season. https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Europes-Natural-Gas-Prices-Surge-10-To-Fresh-Record-Highs.html

Corn and wheat rebounded on the CME as ripple effects from soaring fertilizer prices threatens to squeeze already tight grain supplies. Higher crop-nutrient costs worldwide -- spurred by energy crises in Europe and China -- could cause farmers to switch from wheat to other less fertilizer-intensive plants, adding pressure on already tight stockpiles https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-29/grains-rebound-with-fertilizer-price-surge-threatening-supply

The Bank of England and the UK Treasury department said Wednesday that PayPal, Amazon and Visa will be among the corporate representatives participating in two advisory groups that are exploring a possible central bank digital currency. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/paypal-and-visa-are-among-the-companies-that-will-help-the-bank-of-england-work-on-a-uk-digital-currency/ar-AAOY0W6?pfr=1

European gas futures surged to a record for a fourth consecutive day, as supplies remained stubbornly low. Meanwhile, year-ahead German and France power prices also reached new highs. With just two days before the region’s official heating season starts, concerns remain over flows from Russia after a colder and longer winter depleted the continent’s stockpiles to the lowest in more than a decade for this time of the year. https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/european-gas-rises-again-as-countdown-to-heating-season-begins

North Carolina USA- Bandwidth, a growing global provider of communications services such as 911 access to a host of tech giants, is “fully operational” again after being hit by a cyber attack that affected numerous services. The attack triggered an apology from Bandwidth’s CEO. Bandwidth’s customers include Microsoft, Google, Zoom and many others that utilize internet-based services in Bandwidth’s product portfolio. https://www.wraltechwire.com/2021/09/29/raleigh-based-communications-provider-bandwidth-hit-by-cyberattack-ceo-apologizes/

Metal consumers in China, from appliance makers to auto, construction and solar panel firms, are readying themselves to face potential supply shocks after power curbs and shortages forced several smelters to cut production in recent weeks. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-metal-consumers-feel-supply-sting-forced-power-cuts-2021-09-29/

A coalition of unions that represent shipping workers around the world has warned of an imminent 'global transport systems collapse'. The warning comes as supply-chain backlogs leave scores of cargo ships idling outside US ports, exacerbating shortages caused by a national truck driver shortage that threatens to derail the Christmas shopping season. 'We are witnessing unprecedented disruptions and global delays and shortages on essential goods including electronics, food, fuel and medical supplies,' the shipping workers warned. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10044311/International-shipping-workers-warn-global-transport-systems-collapse.html

The hyperinflation in European gas and electricity prices is getting more surreal by the day. Two days after we said that European natural gas and power prices hit escape velocity after Russia unexpectedly cut supplies, prices jumped to records, signaling the supply shortage will only get worse just as the cold winter season starts. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/european-gas-power-hyperinflation-getting-more-surreal-day

Visa has released a whitepaper for the Universal Payment Channels, a “hub-and-spoke” model for interoperability among various distributed ledger technologies. Visa has suggested that central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and stablecoins should be interoperable. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/visa-publishes-whitepaper-cbdc-stablecoin-081416285.html

The cost of producing food is set to increase with the Chinese government expected to restrict the production and export of a crucial agricultural fertiliser. China's economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), is moving to restrict the production and export of phosphates until the middle of next year. https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-10-01/china-expected-to-stop-phosphate-exports/100505026

Chicago wheat futures surged on Thursday, after the federal government reported that U.S. supplies of wheat have fallen to their lowest level since 2007 - and that the wheat harvest is the smallest seen in 19 years. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/grains-wheat-futures-surge-as-u.s.-supplies-drop-to-14-year-low-2021-09-30

Soaring European gas and electricity prices are getting worse by the day, forcing a vast network of Dutch glasshouses, the largest on the continent, to limit output or go entirely dark. This could have a devastating impact on food supplies and boost prices ahead of the holiday season. https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/dutch-greenhouses-go-dark-energy-crisis-worsens-food-inflation-fears-mount-europe

Costco confirmed it will start limiting purchases on essential household products for what has become a perfect storm of supply chain delays for many retailers. "We are putting some limitations on key items like bath tissues, roll towels, Kirkland Signature water, high demand cleaning-related skews related to the uptick in the delta-related demand," https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/costco-limit-purchases-supply-chain-inflation-pressure

As the frontier of Europe’s energy crisis moves north, dwindling water stocks are exacerbating the squeeze in the Nordic region. Nordic power prices were five times higher in September than a year ago. That’s hitting everyone from power-hungry factories and miners, to students struggling with their bills. Inflation is rocketing. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-03/europe-s-power-crisis-is-moving-north-as-water-shortage-worsens

Besides central bank digital currency (CDBC) issuance, the IMF further recommends “proportionate regulation to the risk and in line with those of global stablecoins.” In addition to CBDC implementation, de-dollarization policies will help governments tackle macro-financial risks. https://cointelegraph.com/news/imf-recommends-cbdc-and-global-crypto-standards-for-financial-stability