What is the fertilizer industry doing to promote nutrient stewardship?

What is the fertilizer industry doing to promote nutrient stewardship?

April 14, 2015

4R Nutrient Stewardship

A Policy Toolkit

March 2015

International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA)

Optimized use of fertilizers by farmers around the world is necessary for food and nutrition security and for safeguarding natural resources and ecosystems. The fertilizer industry has taken up nutrient stewardship as a priority area of work in support of this fact.

Fertilizers of  an  organic  or  mineral  nature replenish  soil  nutrients  removed  after  each  harvest, provide  nutrients  to  plants  so  they  can  grow  bountiful  crops,  ensure  higher  agricultural  yields  and thus make an important contribution to food security. Utilizing fertilizers to increase productivity of existing arable land helps slow down encroachment on forests and natural habitats, thereby making an important contribution to biodiversity preservation and climate change mitigation.

The  benefits of  nutrient  stewardship  include  reduced  environmental  impact,  increased  productivity and  biodiversity  preservation.  More  judicious  use  of  fertilizers  by  farmers  also  enables  them  to improve  farming  profitability.  One industry  framework  seeking  to  achieve  these  outcomes  is  4R nutrient stewardship.

Read more from IFA.

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