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- ItemNext Gen Fertilizer Challenges(2020-9-24)The Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), aim to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative fertilizer technologies that enhance corn production while minimizing environmental impacts. These initiatives are supported by key stakeholders including The Fertilizer Institute, the International Fertilizer Development Center, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Corn Growers Association. The challenges focus on two main areas: the Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) Challenge, which seeks existing solutions that improve nutrient management without compromising yield or increasing costs, and the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations Challenge, which encourages novel technologies not yet on the market. Both challenges emphasize the importance of improving nutrient use efficiency to foster sustainable agriculture, support farmers' profitability, and protect environmental health.
- ItemQuantifying Adoption of Urea Deep Placement by Rice Growers in Bangladesh(2015) Joaquin Sanabria; Ishrat Jahan; Afzal HossainMore than ten years of experimentation have demonstrated that the use of Urea Deep Placement (UDP) results in significantly higher N Use Efficiency (NUE) than broadcasted prilled urea (PU) for lowland rice in Bangladesh. UDP use increases yields, reduces quantities of urea applied, increases farmers’ returns, and produces national savings due to the reduction of urea imports. Ongoing research indicates that large-scale adoption of UDP also has environmental benefits due to reduced N losses and greenhouse gas emissions. The objectives of this research were to estimate UDP adoptions, compare PU and UDP concerning yield, assess methods used for the diffusion of UDP technology, and identify factors with the potential to constrain UDP adoption. Two-cluster sampling was used. Results show that UDP has been widely adopted across the seasons, albeit to differing degrees. Additionally, diffusion strategies such as farmer training and field demonstrations have proven to be effective in improving yield and NUE compared to PU. However, obstacles like the need for hand application and the scarcity of briquettes prevent wider implementation. Using mechanized techniques, recommendations include extending the UDP application to more fields and enhancing briquette dispersion.
- ItemInnovative Fertilization & Application Technologies - For Yield and Nutrition(2021-11-09) Rob JJ Groot; William Adzawla; Williams K. Atakora ; Amadou Gouzaye; Mohamed El GharousThe presentation focused on transforming the fertilizer sector to enhance nutrient uptake, yield, and nutritional quality of crops. This presentation highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in fertilizer design and application strategies. The symposium addressed the decline in the nutritional quality of crops, specifically micronutrients like zinc and iron, over recent decades and examined the impacts of phosphorus fertilization on these essential nutrients. Discussions included innovative fertilizers such as bio-based and recycled phosphorus products and their potential to improve agronomic efficiency and environmental sustainability. The session also underscored the importance of government support and scientific implementation to scale up these innovations, exemplified by the FERRARI project in Ghana. This initiative aims to improve food and nutrition security through sustainable agricultural intensification, involving capacity strengthening and socio-economic engagement of small-scale farmers.
- ItemFertilizer and Nutrient Management Strategies to Build Soil Health in African Agriculture(2023-11) Bindraban, Prem S.; Upendra Singh; Rob JJ Groot; Bernard Vanlauwe; Kido Kouassi; Patrice AnnequinThere is broad consensus that sustainable intensification is the most effective pathway to improve food security and reduce poverty on the African continent. Healthy soils form the foundation to sustainably increase crop yields that can be maintained through Integrated Soil Fertility Management which integrates the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers for balanced nutrition along with other agronomic practices. However, current cultivation practices of insufficient use of fertilizers cause soil nutrient mining and degradation of African soils and farm communities to spiral into poverty. The African Union has embraced this notion to maintain the health of soils through ISFM and plans to endorse the approach at their Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit in June 2023, in Dakar, Senegal. An action plan is under construction to implement soil health improvement practices. Awareness around the importance of soils and the need for the judicious use of fertilizers has been growing in the international development arena and donors are committing themselves to contribute to the action plan. This presentation will elaborate on the outcomes of the Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and the committed actions to improve soil health on the African continent for agricultural intensification.
- ItemInternational Women’s Day 2022: Breaking Biases in Science and Agriculture(2022) Ngunjiri Mercy; Genga QuintarIn commemoration of International Women's Day 2022, Quintar Genga and Mercy Ngunjiri delivered a thought-provoking presentation that addressed the critical issue of gender biases within the fields of science and agriculture. The video shed light on the unique challenges and contributions of women in these sectors and the collective efforts needed to break down persistent biases.