AMERICANS could soon be paying more for organic eggs and it’s largely because of a trade spat the United States is having with India.

The United States, which relies on the South Asian nation for more than 40 percent of its organic soy meal used to feed chickens, is investigating claims that India is unfairly dumping and subsidizing the product and harming American companies.

The outcome is likely “significant tariffs,” according to Ryan Koory, director of economics for Mercaris, which tracks organic markets. That’s spooking merchandisers, who are hoarding soy meal as a response, which is contributing to tight supplies and a surge in prices.

U.S. consumers could see higher prices for organic eggs at a time when conventional eggs are also rising on increased retail demand. Soaring soy meal could also result in pricier organic meat and even dairy, adding to food inflation that’s become rampant across the globe since the pandemic began.

John Brunnquell, head of Egg Innovations, one of the biggest U.S. producers of free-range eggs, has managed to find meal for his more than one million birds, but still faces prices of US$1,700 a ton, more than double a year ago. (SD-Agencies)