Voluntary initiative and regulations
The adoption of FBMPs may be translated into increased agricultural productivity, profitability and a decrease in negative impacts to the environment from fertilizer use.
The fertilizer industry recognizes that its efforts alone are not sufficient to ensure widespread adoption of FBMPs, yet it takes a pro-active stance on improving fertilizer use efficiency.
The principle of FBMPs is simple: using the right product(s) at the right rate, time and place.
The simplicity of the principle means that it can be adapted depending on the farmer’s access to technology. However, in reality, there are trade-offs in achieving either maximum and stable yields, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, limiting nutrient leaching, producing nutritious foods, and other objectives. Thus, priority objectives have to be determined to achieve the greatest possible benefit from the implementation and adoption of FBMPs. It is also important that stakeholders, particularly the producers/farmers and legislators, have a good understanding of the costs and benefits of adapting FBMPs, and to continuously review the need for incentives or regulation. Governments should try to prevent imposition of statutory directives and regulations that are too stringent, disproportionate and exaggerated with respect to fertilizer use.On the contrary, they should encourage voluntary multi-stakeholder initiatives.
The following are links to papers written about the subject;
- N. Drew Fertcare® ,Putting best practice into stewardship
- M.A. Sutton, J.W. Erisman and O. Oenema, Strategies for controlling nitrogen emissions from agriculture: regulatory, voluntary and economic approaches
