The European Union is divided over how to help poorer countries fight a growing food crisis and address fertilizer shortages caused by the conflict in Ukraine, with some fearing that a plan to invest in plants in Africa would run counter to EU environmental goals, Reuters reported.

At a summit of EU leaders later this week, the EU planned to launch a new initiative that would structurally reduce poorer countries' dependence on Russian fertilizers by helping them develop their own fertilizer plants.

But at a meeting with EU envoys last week, the European Commission explicitly opposed the idea, warning that supporting fertilizer production in developing countries would run counter to EU energy and environmental policies, official sources said.

Chemical fertilizer production has a big impact on the environment and requires a lot of energy. But they are extremely effective in boosting agricultural production.

Draft conclusions of the June 23-24 summit, seen by Reuters, urge the EU executive commission to devise a plan "to support the development of fertiliser manufacturing capacity and alternatives in developing countries".

The text, dated June 15 and prepared by the aides of European Council President Charles Michel, is to be discussed and likely tweaked at a meeting of EU ambassadors late on Monday, officials said.