February 2016
fertilizers www.fertilizer.org
&
agriculture
The Paris Agreement on climate change and implications for the fertilizer industry by John Drexhage
T
hanks in no small part to the leadership provided by the Government of France, a global climate change agreement was reached at the end of the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) on 12 December.1 The Paris Agreement represents a significant step forward as virtually all countries2 (not only developed ones) have agreed to take actions beginning in 2020 to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the aim of limiting the increase in the average global temperature to well below two degrees Celsius (2°C) relative to pre-industrial levels. Avoiding a 2°C temperature increase will require “net zero” GHG emissions globally as early as 2050.3 One big question is whether the Paris Agreement sends a sufficiently strong signal to the international investment community that the political will to address global climate change is now strong and clear. If it does so, the agreement will have implications for the fossil fuel industry – not in “closing down” its operations in the immediate future, but in reinvigorating interest and investments in technologies and practices that will reduce emissions of carbon di- oxide (CO2) and other GHGs. Ahead of the Paris Conference, more than 150 countries – accounting for around 90% of global economic activity and 90% of global energy-related CO2 emissions4 – submitted national plans (referred to as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or INDCs) to reduce their GHG emissions post-2020.5 There are a number of implications for the fertilizer industry. Depending on actions taken by individual countries, for example, the industry could be subject to carbon pricing mechanisms6 and
other regulatory approaches on its production practices. In addition, many of the over 90 countries that identified agriculture in their INDCs, have referred to changes in fertilizer practices as one way to achieve GHG emission reductions. The industry needs to communicate about the important role of plant nutrients in sustainable agricultural intensification. Sustainable intensification not only helps soils to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere; it improves soil productivity on land already under cultivation and, very importantly, by enhancing crop productivity, should work to moderate deforestation where this is intended to create new farmland. cont’d on page 2
Fertilizers and climate smart agriculture by Terry Roberts Climate smart agriculture (CSA) is an integrated approach that addresses food security as global climate change continues to occur. The purpose of climate smart agriculture is to help with the adaptation of cropping systems, to sustainably increase productivity, and to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. Producing food as our climate changes will require adopting and adapting technologies ranging from better-suited crop genetics to improved agronomic management. Climate smart agriculture will not be possible without the proper
use and management of fertilizers. Fertilizers can contribute to carbon (C) sequestration in soils and, when they are properly managed, will have minimal impacts on the level of greenhouse gas emissions. cont’d on page 2
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cont’d from page 1
The Paris agreement on climate change
Compared to forestry, agriculture received a comparative lack of attention during the Paris negotiations. However, as many countries have identified agriculture and agriculture-related CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions as areas where overall GHG emission reductions could be achieved, pressure will build for capacity building on best practices and the development of guidelines for monitoring, reporting and verifying net emission reductions. Starting at the next meeting of the Climate Change Convention’s Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) in May 2016, the fertilizer industry therefore has an important contribution to make in providing relevant expert advice. Agriculture did enjoy a prominent profile at a number of COP21 “side events” that took place outside the formal negotiations, including a two-day conference on landscapes and the launch of a highprofile initiative by the French Government on enriching the carbon content of soils by .4% annually until 2030. The fertilizer industry has critical work to carry out together with national governments as they begin to implement their INDCs. For example, many African countries have included in their national plans measures to transition from mineral to “organic” fertilizers. However, African soils are often very poor in nutrients. Governments need to consider the need for fertilizers to enrich their soils, in order to increase crop yields and significantly enhance soils’ resilience to climate-related impacts, including those of droughts and flash floods. The challenge for the fertilizer industry is to continue to prosper in an eventual “net zero” carbon future by: • demonstrating a continued commitment to sustainable agricultural productivity; • working to decrease global GHG emissions through improving practices and technologies; • perhaps most importantly, demonstrating that its contributions to enriching soil productivity reduce pressures for further land use change.
neutrality deals only with carbon dioxide emisIt also emphasized the importance of “pursu-
sions. In 2012, 23% of emissions were non-CO2
ing efforts to limit the temperature increase
greenhouse gases.” From: “COP21 Q&A: What
to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recog-
Is GHG Emissions Neutrality in the Context of
nizing that this would significantly reduce
the Paris Agreement?”, World Resources Insti-
the risks and impacts of climate change”. The
tute (WRI), www.wri.org/blog/2015/12/cop21-
Paris Agreement will enter into force after
qa-what-ghg-emissions-neutrality-context-
1
55 countries that account for at least 55% of
paris-agreement
global GHG emissions have deposited their
4
instruments of ratification. For the text of
Outlook Special Briefing for COP21, Organisa-
the agreement, see: “Adoption of the Paris
tion for Economic Co-operation and Devel-
Agreement”,
unfccc.int/resource/docs/2015/
opment (OECD)/International Energy Agency
cop21/eng/l09r01.pdf. Also see, among other
(IEA), 2015, www.iea.org/media/news/WEO_
sites that summarize the agreement: “Eu-
INDC_Paper_Final_WEB.PDF. According to this
ropean Commission: Climate Action: Paris
IEA publication, actions in the energy sector
Agreement”,ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/inter-
could make or break efforts to achieve the
national/negotiations/future/index_en.htm
world’s agreed climate goal. Growth in energy
Energy and Climate Change: World Energy
One country, Nicaragua, announced it would
sector GHG emissions would slow dramatically
not publish a national plan to combat global
if the INDCs were fully implemented; natural
warming. See: “COP21: Nicaragua refuses to
gas would increase its share in the energy mix,
2
make climate pledge at Paris talks”, Financial
while the shares of coal and oil would decline.
Times, 6 December 2015, www.ft.com/intl/cms/
5
s/2/10b3910e-99ee-11e5-9228-87e603d47bdc.
during the conference. See: “Intended Na-
html#axzz3x1kWkxMQ
tionally Determined Contributions (INDCs)”,
3
“Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions neutrality
Several other countries submitted INDCs
UN
Framework
Convention
on
Climate
should be interpreted to mean net zero an-
Change (UNFCCC), unfccc.int/focus/indc_por-
thropogenic GHG emissions from all sectors.
tal/items/8766.php; and “What is an INDC?”,
It is achieved first and foremost by reducing
World Resources Institute, www.wri.org/indc-
total GHG emissions to as close to zero as pos-
definition
sible. Any remaining GHGs would be balanced
6
with an equivalent amount of removals (such
Carbon?”, The World Bank, www.worldbank.
as enhanced sequestration in the land sector)
org/en/news/feature/2014/06/11/what-does-it-
or negative emissions (possibly using future
mean-to-put-a-price-on-carbon
See: “What Does It Mean to Put a Price on
technologies like bioenergy combined with carbon capture and sequestration, although
Contact
these remain unproven at scale) … GHG neu-
John Drexhage Consultant, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Energy john@drexhage.ca Tel: +1 613 325 8254
trality covers all greenhouse gas emissions, which means emissions from carbon dioxide as well as other greenhouse gases like methane. All of these gases would reach net zero in a GHG neutral scenario. In contrast, carbon
February 2016
cont’d from page 1
Fertilizers and climate smart agriculture
Carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration is any increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) content caused by a change in land management. The Earth’s soil is a tremendous sink for C. Soil organic matter (SOM) is estimated to contain about 1,500 billion metric tonnes of C (at 0-1 metre depth). That is two and half times more C than in terrestrial vegetation and twice the amount in the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration in cultivated soil can be increased by reducing tillage, adding organic amendments, using cover crops and adding appropriate nutrients. Carbon sequestration provides a winwin opportunity because it helps remove CO2 from the air and builds soil organic matter, which improves soil health and productivity. However, there are some constraints on C sequestration: the carbon gain in soils is finite; levels increase only until the soil reaches a new equilibrium; the process is reversible; and practices that promote sequestration (e.g. fertilization) may be responsible for other greenhouse gas emissions. A wide range of laboratory methods can be used to determine SOC concentrations. Accurately measuring and modelling C inputs and changes in SOC is nevertheless a major challenge.
The importance of nitrogen Nitrogen (N) is one of the most critical nutrients that promote C capture in soil. It stimulates plant growth and increases C storage in plant residues and roots. A scientific review of more than 250 studies that compared soil organic C response to N additions reported that N fertilization increased C inputs to the soil from aboveground biomass by 36%, belowground roots by 23% and litter by 21%1. While the added N only increased soil C storage by about 4%, these additions decreased the root-to-shoot ratios and accelerated litter decomposition, soil respiration and C mineralization, thus decreasing overall C capture. There are some concerns that the benefits of N fertilization are offset by potential increases in emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) from the manufacture of fertilizers and their use in the field. However, N2O emissions
from N fertilizer use are directly related to surplus N, beyond that needed by the crop. These emissions can be avoided by improving N use efficiency through adequate and balanced fertilization and the implementation of 4R Nutrient Stewardship. Applying the right source of N, including controlled release fertilizers, ureMain carbon stocks (Bt) – Flows, Bt/yr ase and nitrification Adapted from Janzen 2015 and Le Quuéré et al. 2015. IPNI inhibitors – at the right rate needed to 1 optimize yield for a specific crop, at the Lu et al. 2011. Minor stimulation of soil right place in the soil, and at the right carbon storage by nitrogen addition: A time it is or will be needed by the crop meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems and – can effectively limit N2O emissions and Environment 140:234-244. contribute to C sequestration. The use of fertilizer best management practices Contact that are included within the scientific Terry Roberts principles of the 4Rs can reduce N2O President International Plant Nutrition Institute (UPNI), USA emissions without reducing crop yields. troberts@ipni.net www.ipni.net Conclusion Global temperatures continue to increase as our climate changes. 2015 is likely to be the warmest year since reFor more information on fertilizers cords began to be kept in 1880. High and climate change, visit the IFA temperatures and elevated levels of atwebsite: mospheric CO2 are projected to benefit www.fertilizer.org/ClimateChange some crops and some regions, but to negatively impact others. Read also the IFA media backgrounder Because the role of fertilizers in increasing agricultural productivity is key to global food security and to increasing yields on existing arable land (thus preserving forests and biodiversity), IFA, the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) joined the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture in September 2014 to encourage the industry to promote the proper use of our products to minimize their environmental impact in the field.
Fertilizers and Climate Change
For more information about the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA), go to www.fao.org/climatesmart-agriculture/en/
www.fertilizer.org/en/ItemDetail?iPro ductCode=10004Pdf&Category=ENV
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4 ď źfertilizers & agriculture
Developing awareness of the quality and proper use of fertilizers in Bangladesh by Alexis Ellicott Bangladesh has an expanding population of more than 168 million, which puts enormous stress on the decreasing amount of land being used for agriculture. (The total land area of Bangladesh is 130,170 square kilometres or 50,259 square miles.) Despite recent declines in poverty, nearly 25% of the population lives below the poverty line and individuals continue to struggle with food insecurity. These realities are most notable in southern Bangladesh, once considered the country’s breadbasket, where at least 30% of households derive their income from agriculture. While the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has committed substantial resources and outside donor support remains strong, much work remains to be done in order to develop the rural economy of the south and improve the livelihoods of its inhabitants. Intense cultivation, combined with climatic pressure, is leading to acute soil depletion and a need to increase production on decreasing agricultural land while maintaining proper soil fertility and a healthy environment. Though these factors are difficult to address, there are efforts in Bangladesh to improve the effective use of inputs, particularly fertilizers, to maximize production. With respect to inputs, a combination of weak quality controls, poor knowledge of improved technologies and lack of market information re-
sults in reduced yields and income potential for the poorest populations. Total demand for macronutrient fertilizers during the last fiscal year (201415) was estimated at about 4.80 million tonnes. The Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), in consultation with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), fixes fertilizer requirements, with urea, TSP, DAP and MoP being used most widely. Besides assessing demand, the MoA calculates fertilizer production, import and price, as the GoB provides heavy subsidies (40-60%) on imported and locally produced urea, TSP, DAP and MoP to align with the purchasing capacity of farmers. While the supply of fertilizers is generally sufficient to meet demand, quality can be an issue, varying in degree and magnitude with type and location. By far the most adulterated fertilizers are micronutrients such as zinc sulphate and boric acid, with up to
70% adulteration. The GoB has set specifications for microfertilizers, which nevertheless tend to be highly adulterated due to lack of enforcement of quality standards. In addition to tampering with genuine product, many unregistered companies are marketing fake or expired products. Most of these companies do not have adequate storage facilities, and company personnel are unaware of the need for proper handling. To address adulteration, government fertilizer inspectors are inspecting and monitoring the shops of dealers and retailers more frequently. Fertilizer inspectors and agricultural extension officials are also helping to train dealers, retailers and farmers on identification techniques for quality fertilizers, as well as on the proper and efficient use of these fertilizers following the 4 Rs. All of these measures, however, require enhanced support by the GoB and the private sector to provide adequate finance and training. To support work being done by the GoB on knowledge of quality inputs and to increase awareness of input adulteration, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Agro-Inputs Project (AIP), as part of the United States Government’s Feed the Future initiative and in partnership
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IFA news IFA Protect & Sustain is gathering speed teration of all inputs. Through AIP we will continue to work with the Government of Bangladesh, as well as fertilizer industry actors such as the Bangladesh Fertilizer Association (BFA), to increase the knowledge of quality fertilizers by promoting recognized industry standards for packaging, labelling and conformity with national regulations. Ensuring that Bangladeshi farmers have access to high-quality, unadulterated inputs, especially fertilizers, is critical to the country’s journey to achieve food security, improve productivity and generate higher incomes. with Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), is raising awareness of quality fertilizers (along with seed, and crop protection products) among input retailers and farmers through a mass media campaign in Bangladesh’s southern delta. Information on the benefits of using quality fertilizers, government standards, conventional ways to recognize quality, and correct application methods are being transmitted through print materials such as billboards, booklets and posters, cell phone Short Message Service (SMS) “blasts” and public service announcements (PSAs). Moreover, CNFA has joined hands with the GoB’s Agriculture Information Services for wider dissemination of the campaign’s messages through community information centres and mobile video airing at rural levels. AIP supports more than 2500 agroretailers through the Agro-Inputs Retailers’ Network (AIRN). AIRN, a firstof-its-kind inputs training and service provider, works with retailers committed to supply quality agro-inputs, including fertilizers, to farmer customers. In order to create demand for quality inputs, AIRN retailers undergo training on the safe use of inputs and improved agronomic use of agro-inputs. AIRN members, who agree to a code of business conduct, are committed to identify and combat the adul-
Contact Alexis Ellicott CNFA Chief of Party for the USAID Agro-Inputs Project, USA aellicott@cnfabangladesh.org
Protect & Sustain is the de facto global product stewardship standard for fertilizers. It was developed by IFA members for IFA. Protect & Sustain allows fertilizer producers around the world to confidentially assess their plants’ performances and enables certified companies to dialogue with their local stakeholders about product stewardship in a much more efficient manner. IFA’s Hall of Fame now includes 28 producers of N, P, K in 43 countries. And Protect & Sustain is gathering speed: in 2016, it will be possible for other parts of the fertilizer value chain (ports, traders, transporters, distributors …) to become Protect & Sustain-certified by DNV and SGS, too. For questions about this program, please contact IFA’s Volker Andresen (vandresen@fertilizer.org) and check-out the Protect & Sustain web site (www.protectandsustain.org).
IFA's Hard Hat Campaign - A full success Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) is an international non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA and Brussels, Belgium with offices in 16 countries throughout Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. CNFA works with businesses, foundations, governments and communities to build customized local and global partnerships that meet the world’s growing demand for food. Since their inception in 1985, they have designed and implemented enterprise-based, agricultural development initiatives to facilitate market access, enhance agribusiness competitiveness, increase productivity and improve access to inputs and credit across 42 countries worldwide. More information www.cnfa.org/program/agro-inputsproject/ www.aipbd.org www.cnfa.org
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Universal Harvester Inc's Back-To-Farm programme in the Philippines
Empowering small farmers and revitalizing farming communities in devastated areas by Lucille Ortile, Rommel Cunanan and Chelo Maderazo
Universal Harvester Incorporated (UHI), established in 2003, is a leading exporter, manufacturer and distributor of organic and inorganic fertilizer in the Philippines. In 2015 the company also expanded into other agricultural areas. UHI has implemented a number of support programmes into other agricultural business areas. Back-To-Farm (Balik Saka), undertaken in collaboration with the Junior Chamber International of the Philippines (JCI), is an especially noteworthy example of such a support programme. The brainchild of UHI’s Executive Vice President, Dr. Mila Ong How, the BackTo-Farm programme was designed to aid communities in the region of Eastern Visayas that had been devastated in November 2013 by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever reported. Back-To-Farm’s main objective is to assist in the rehabilitation and improvement of communities in typhoon affected areas. Ensuring a sustainable agricultural livelihood in beneficiary communities will, in turn,
enable them to help other communities. Back-To-Farm utilizes farmers’ cooperatives and associations to achieve its goals, which include: helping farmers return to their damaged farms and jumpstart their agricultural activities; reviving the productivity of farms through technical and financial assistance; introducing new crops; and encouraging greater cooperation among farmers.
Back-To-Farm empowers farmers to help their fellow farmers and to share the moral responsibility of passing on the benefits of the programme. Beneficiaries receive quality farm inputs at the lowest possible prices through tapping into the network of farmer organizations as distribution hubs for commodities. The programme also provides other avenues through which UHI can increase brand awareness, product discovery, brand interaction and partnerships, as well as improve customer relations and eventually extend its client network of farmers. This UHI programme is unique in three ways. First, it is a collaboration among the private sector, the government and beneficiary communities. Second, it teaches farmers about financial management and the marketing of their produce. Third, and most importantly, it "pays back by paying forward" – it departs from the usual "dole out" mode of assistance to victims of natural calamities. In 2014 Back-To-Farm actively helped
February 2016
39 communities; in 2015 it was involved with 153 more. The total number of individual beneficiaries of the programme is estimated at 53,000. Results so far show that up to 90% of the beneficiaries have improved their living conditions, as shown by their expansion into agri-business as well as the home improvements they have carried out and their larger bank deposits. Back-to-Farm can easily be replicated in other areas through 15-week training programmes, financial management modules, correspondence and agreement templates, strategies and risk management lists, and expansion and interaction programmes. Another way in which Back-To-Farm has aided its beneficiary communities is by providing them with additional income streams through intercropping of vegetables or other high value crops (“cash crops”) with the rice and coconut crops that were previously the farmers’ only source of income. Since vegetables generally have shorter gestation periods than staple crops and can be planted year-round with high demand, the beneficiary communities are able to supply their province with vegetables previously imported from distant locations in the Philippines such as the Luzon and Mindanao regions. The intercropped produce’s quality and
consistency have attracted major restaurant chains (e.g. Shakey’s, McDonald’s and Max’s Restaurants), which buy the communities’ vegetables on a regular basis. In addition, the success of BackTo-Farm’s work with village communities has resulted in activities by a number of donor agencies in the Philippines, including alternate livelihood and disaster preparedness programmes.
Contact Info: Tel. No: (+632) 709-5001 to 02, Fax. No. (+632)709-5006. info.tofarm@gmail.com, tofarm@universalharvester.com Link: www.tofarm.org, www.universalharvester.com
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4th International Zinc Symposium São Paulo, Brazil 15-17 October 2015 By Ismail Cakmak with contributions by the session chairs
The International Zinc Symposium is a scientific conference whose purpose is to review the latest knowledge and best agricultural practices for addressing zinc deficiency and its impact on global crop production and human health. This year’s symposium, which took place in São Paulo, Brazil from 15 to 17 October, was organized jointly by the International Zinc Association (IZA) and IFA, in collaboration with HarvestPlus. There were 160 registered participants from 38 countries. The three previous symposia took place in Perth (Australia) in 1993, Istanbul (Turkey) in 2007 and Hyderabad (India) in 2011. The 4th International Zinc Symposium demonstrated that links between the agricultural use of zinc (Zn) fertilizers and human nutrition and health are becoming stronger. However, efforts need to be made to ensure that this linkage becomes even stronger in the future. Several presentations highlighted the importance of the foliar application of zinc fertilizers, and of better soil management, for the enrichment of food crops with zinc. On-going breeding programmes under the HarvestPlus umbrella have begun to release very promising new cereal lines that are high in zinc. According to Professor Ross Welch of Cornell University, USA, “the only sustainable solution to zinc deficiency in humans globally has to come from the agriculture sector. It is a “win-win” scenario – better crop production and better nutritional health. Zinc deficiency in
humans has its origins in the zinc status of agricultural soils and correcting the root cause of the problem, therefore, entails the use of agricultural tools.” The event in São Paulo began with a welcome speech by Professor Dr. Alfredo Scheid Lopes (Federal University of Lavras, Brazil) followed by opening remarks by Andrew Green (IZA), Patrick Heffer (IFA) and Wolfgang Pfeiffer (HarvestPlus).
Symposium sessions Session 1: Human Nutrition and Social Aspects (chaired by Ross Welch, USA) Session 2: Plant Physiology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology (chaired by Martin Broadley, UK) Session 3: Fertilizer Zinc and Crop Biofortification (chaired by Ellis Hoffland, Netherlands)
Session 4: Zinc in Soils and the Environment (chaired by Milton Moraes, Brazil). One of the keynote speakers in São Paulo was Maria Elena Ugaz from the United Nations Chidren’s Fund (UNICEF), who is based in Peru. She spoke on efforts by UNICEF and IZA to minimize childhood chronic malnutrition in that country focusing on micronutrient (particularly zinc) deficiencies and diarrhoeal disease. Two interventions were used: multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) and supplemental zinc to treat diarrhoeal disease. Both interventions have shown very positive results. In another keynote speech, Rainer Schulin from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, showed that the application of crop residues increases extractable soil zinc and greatly contributes to grain zinc concentrations. He told the seminar participants that organic matter management is a feasible approach to agronomic zinc biofortification of wheat. Fien Degryse of the University of Adelaide, Australia, pointed out in her keynote speech that zinc from fertilizers may precipitate with, for instance, phosphate, depending on the form and concentrations in which it is applied.
Opening Session (from left to right: Wolfgang Pfeiffer (HarvestPlus), Ismail Cakmak (Sabancı University), Andrew Green (IZA), Alfredo Scheid Lopes (Lawras University) and Patrick Heffer (IFA).
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IFA publications Fertilización Foliar: Principios Científicos y Práctica de Campo. November 2015 160 participants from 38 countries attended the event.
Other presentations Marilia Nutti of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA – Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) shared information on highly promising efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean in regard to biofortification of food crops. Manfred Zeller of the HarvestPlus programme made a presentation on the economic and social issues of zinc deficiency. He emphasized the substantial long-term economic and social impacts of biofortification programmes on human populations in South Asia. The importance of zinc fertilization for both the production and nutritional quality of food crops was discussed by Martin Broadley of Nottingham University, using Pakistan as an example. More than 80% of rice-wheat production areas in Pakistan’s Punjab Province are zinc deficient because there is little awareness among farmers, as well as low zinc fertilizer availability. Using 5 kg/ha of zinc can increase rice and wheat yields by more than 10%, resulting in a 7:1 value/cost ratio. Wolfgang Pfeiffer of HarvestPlus presented an overview of progress made by that programme in deploying biofortified crops/products. Notably, there is increased adoption of high-zinc material, including biofortified wheat in India and Pakistan. HarvestPlus interacts with many stakeholders in different countries to ensure that the message reaches smallholder farmers; for example, a television commercial in Rwanda highlights the benefits of beans with high iron (Fe) content.
Luiz R.G. Guilherme of the Federal University of Lavras, Brazil, stressed the importance of micronutrients for the progress made in his country’s agricultural production. Erik Smolders of Leuven University, Belgium, discussed zinc in the environment. Geological background values range from 5 to 150 mg Zn/kg, with a global estimated value of about 50 mg Zn/kg. Zinc toxicity may occur in plants, depending on many factors. Clear examples of zinc toxicity in the environment can be found in the vicinity of zinc smelters. Sewage sludge is the principal means by which zinc enters the environment. The organizing committee of the 4th International Zinc Symposium plans to hold the 5th symposium either in Europe (probably Spain) or Asia (probably China) in 2018. Abstracts of all oral and poster presentations are available at www.fertilizer. org//En/Knowledge_Resources/Library/ Agriculture_Publications1.aspx
Contact Ismail Cakmak Sabanci University, Turkey cakmak@sabanciuniv.edu http://zinccrops2015.org
This publication is available in Portuguese, and English as a hardcopy and as a pdf.
Responsible Plant Nutrition. C. Hebebrand, December 2015
Pour une nutrition des plantes responsable. C. Hebebrand, décembre 2015
All the publication can be downloaded at www.fertilizer.org//En/Knowledge_Resources/Library/IFA_Selection_Fertilizer_ Use.aspx
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ESAF Trade Platform to enhance fertilizer supply in East and Southern Africa By Vongai Makamure Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa face particularly acute constraints on accessing productivity-enhancing inputs such as fertilizers. Paradoxically, although fertilizer markets in Africa have been liberalized since the 1990s, there is still low participation and investment by the private sector. Private sector actors continue to face numerous obstacles, including: overcrowding of the sector by governments; poor port transport and storage infrastructure, which drives up transaction costs; the high cost of finance; and unpredictable policy environments, characterized by policy and regulatory barriers to marketing and trade. In response to these constraints, the East and Southern Africa Fertilizer (ESAF) Trade Platform, initiated by the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), in collaboration with the Alliance for Commodity Trade on East and Southern Africa (ACTESA) was established in 2014. The purpose of this initiative is to increase the amount of fertilizer produced, imported and distributed by the private sector in the region through providing a platform for public-private dialogue and joint action. While AFAP aims to establish, grow and support 500 new agribusinesses in the fertilizer sector in East and Southern Africa, the Trade Platform will support and facilitate this by: • bringing public and private stakeholders together on a regular basis; • providing relevant, up-to-date market information, and generating and disseminating evidence on best practices and lessons learned, for fertilizer policy and market development. ESAF advisory committee chairperson Adam Mostert explains that: “The ESAF Trade Platform will drive these objectives at regional level. However, we recognize that the success and relevance of the Platform will depend greatly on what is going on at the national level. We will work closely with national partners to strengthen or establish relevant national
bodies that can feed into and benefit from the activities at the regional level.” To date, the Trade Platform has raised awareness and obtained stakeholder buy-in. ESAF has also identified the private sector’s needs so that it can increase its participation and engagement in the fertilizer space in the region. In its second phase the Trade Platform is harnessing the relationships established and knowledge gained during the first phase, so as to facilitate the creation of (or strengthen) national fertilizer trade associations and public-private dialogue platforms as well as to provide services, in order to help those concerned better engage in domestic and regional trade. ESAF is also facilitating the establishment of business-to-business and trade linkages along the supply chain to increase fertilizer supply and use by employing various strategies. For example, the Trade Platform is developing a database of qualified buyers, to be linked with suppliers from the region and elsewhere that are seeking viable distribution conduits for their products in the region. ESAF is committed to organizing business fairs to bring together private fertilizer suppliers and agribusiness companies and facilitate agreements that will directly link fertilizer supply to demand from output markets. It is
also committed to generate knowledge on the status of the fertilizer market in the region, and on investment and trade opportunities, and to share this knowledge on a quarterly basis. ESAF’s first annual meeting, held on 24 and 25 September 2015 in Lusaka, Zambia, attracted over 250 delegates. They were mainly representatives of private fertilizer companies from all levels of the value chain, financial institutions, development partners, agro-dealers and farmers associations, along with policy and decision makers driving the regional fertilizer agenda. Dr. Maria Wanzala, AFAP Regional Director for East and Southern Africa and Director for the ESAF Trade Platform, points out: “The Trade Platform connects industry actors with each other and with government policy and decision makers. It creates opportunities for private investors to identify and pursue new fertilizer market opportunities, and helps governments at national and regional levels to identify the policy and regulatory reforms they can introduce to create a more conducive environment for fertilizer sector growth.”
Contact info East and Southern Africa Fertilizer Trade Platform; Edenburg Terraces; 3rd Floor, Block D; 348 Rivonia Boulevard; Johannesburg, 2128; South Africa Tel: +27 11 844 7320 Website: www.afap-partnership.org
Contacts Maria Wanzala (PhD), Executive Director Email: mwanzala@afap-partnership.org Sandra Pires, Project Manager Email: spires@afap-partnership.org
February 2016
IFA Upcoming Events
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FERTILISER ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (FAI). IFA Global Technical Symposium (New Delhi, 14 – 17 March, 2016) About 150 technology leaders from around 40 countries will meet at the IFA Global Technical Symposium in India to discuss strategic topics like climate change and fertilizer innovation. Many
best practices will be shared on new production processes and more efficient utilization. Side events will include open meetings of IFA’s Phosphogypsum and Method Harmonization working groups. Finally, all participants will be invited to join the Welcome Reception and a Gala
Dinner, plus to go on a technical site visit to the IFA Protect & Sustain-certified IFFCO Kalol Unit. For more information, please visit the IFA Global Technical Symposium 2016 web site.
ifa-newdelhi2016.org
IFA Annual Meeting IFA’s well renowned Annual Meeting will be hold this year in Moscow from May 30 – June 1.
IFA Recent Events
IFA’s Communications & Agriculture Meeting Over 92 people from 32 countries attended this year’s Communications & Agriculture meeting in Rome, which started with a special day dedicated to “Sustainable Plant Nutrition and Soil Health”. Following up on the International Year of Soils, high level guest speakers from the FAO, IFAD, AFAP and a representative of the World Farm Organization, presented key take-aways, projects and case studies to assure a legacy for the UN annual initiative. IFA supports already several FAO programs like the Global Soil Partnership ( GSP) and the Global Alliance on Climate Smart Agriculture ( GACSA). The Communications & Agriculture Meeting represented a timely opportunity for the respective leaders of these programs to introduce their plans for 2016 to IFA members. Other topics covered during the three days event were Innovation, Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Climate Change.
More information on upcoming events:
www.fertilizer.org/ifaevents
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IFA Product Security Roundtable in Istanbul Nitrogenous fertilizers can be misused by terrorists to produce Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). To reduce the likelihood of this to happen in Turkey and with a particular focus on the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS), an IFA Product Security Roundtable was organized in Istanbul on 19 January 2016. 20 meeting participants came from the local industry and Jordan, from IFA’s Product Security Working Group and the Secretariat, as well as from the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency (JIDA) and the World Customs Organization (see photo). Following an overview of the global IED situation and the flow of AN, CAN, PN, and urea in the region, best international practices to address this problem were shared and potential actions for the local industry and the Turkish government were reviewed. This discussion will continue on local level in February. For more information contact Volker Andresen at vandresen@fertilizer.org.
Evaluate your Environmental Performance IFA’s biennial Environmental Performance Benchmark is calling all fertilizer producers for participation. For over a decade now, this popular survey has monitored global performance in roughly fifty industrial emissions. It has generated specific assessments across the major fertilizer product areas to allow participating companies to establish local targets, to measure performance against the best plants in the industry, and to accurately and credibly communicate with stakeholders. As always, this IFA benchmark entails no cost to members and all data is kept strictly confidential. The deadline of this year’s edition is 31 March 2016. If your company would like to participate don’t hesitate to contact IFA’s benchmarking team at 2016edition@ifa-environmentalsurvey. org.
1st IFA Protect & Sustain workshop in China Following an official invitation from the China Consultative Group which represents the country’s largest fertilizer producers, IFA successfully conducted its first Chinese Protect & Sustain workshop in Beijing on 13 January 2016 (See also page 5). 21 Senior Executives from eight fertilizer producers, as well as the national N, P, K, and Sulfuric Acid associations participated in this major event (see photo) to kick off this product stewardship certification program in China. A delegation of international speakers was led by Volker Andresen from IFA and included guests from the partner-auditors of DNV and SGS, plus Yara China. During the day, the workshop covered the background of Protect & Sustain, the case study of Yara International who certified plants in many countries around the world, and a detailed review of the survey’s questions. The Secretariat would like to thank China Blue Chemicals for hosting this memorable event.
More information at www.protectandsustain.org
International Fertilizer Industry Association 28, rue Marbeuf, 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 1 53 93 05 00 Fax: +33 1 53 93 05 45/47 ifa@fertilizer.org www.fertilizer.org @FertilizerNews! Fertilizers & Agriculture is a quarterly newsletter published by IFA covering issues in relation to fertilizers and sustainable agriculture. Mailing list Subscription to Fertilizers & Agriculture is free of charge. To receive a hard copy, send full address details to be added to the mailing list. Additional copies may be supplied to organizations to circulate on behalf of IFA. To consult current and past issues of Fertilizers & Agriculture: www.fertilizer.org/newsletters Contributions We invite your contributions of letters, documents, articles, photographs, etc. Director General of IFA: Charlotte Hebebrand Editor-in-Chief: Claudine Aholou-Pütz Material in F&A may be reproduced only after prior consent by IFA. Reference to individuals, publications, research, products, companies or organizations does not indicate endorsement by IFA. For information on IFA’s activities:www.fertilizer.org © International Fertilizer Industry Association 2016 Printed with vegetable-based ink by Point44 on paper from sustainably managed forests.