FAO/IFA cooperation

IFA's cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) began decades ago, when FAO started a "Fertilizer Programme" under its "Freedom from Hunger Campaign". Subsequently, the Fertiliser Industry Advisory Committee of Experts (FIAC) was established to advise FAO on how best to harness the potential of fertilizers to improve the lives of hungry people around the world.

FIAC no longer exists, but the positive spirit of cooperation between IFA and FAO continues, and IFA has consultative status with this UN specialized agency. IFA's main point of contact within the organization is the Land and Plant Nutrition Management Service. IFA supports the Service's ongoing work to help rural people improve the fertility of their soils and raise food crop production.

FAO and IFA have produced a number of joint publications that discuss the importance of balanced plant nutrition and provide technical information to help farmers improve their yields and the fertility of the soil.

• Fertilizer Retailing Guide (April 2002)
• Global Estimates of Gaseous Emissions of NH₃, NO and N₂O from Agricultural Land (2001)
• Guide du Detaillant d' Engrais (December 2001)
• Fertilizers and their use (2000)
• Fertilizer Strategies (1999)
• Fertilizer and Food Production (1989)

IFA contributes its data and expertise to statistics compiled annually by FAO on fertilizer application throughout the world.

FAO also carries out essential extension activities to help farmers understand the concepts of balanced nutrition. IFA strives to make a positive contribution to this work through the development of best practice manuals and other resources designed to foster knowledge transfer.

In March 2001, IFA was pleased to participate in the delegation coordinated through the International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) that represented business and industry at the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD) Forum held concurrently with FAO's Committee on Agriculture (COAG) meeting. This groundbreaking event was warmly received by the attending governments and clearly demonstrated FAO's desire to stimulate its dialogue with civil society actors.

FAO is the Task Manager for two of the chapters in Agenda 21 (the final document of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro), and IFA had the opportunity - again through IAFN - to contribute to the Task Manager's reports that FAO prepared for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002 in Johannesburg).

• FAO's main web site
• FAO's web site for the World Summit on Sustainable Development