Global Fertilizer Day 2026

Paris, France, October 13, 2026

Only 20% of Americans know that around half of global food production relies on mineral fertilizers.

New research reveals widespread uncertainty about the role of mineral fertilizers in global food security.

Only one in five US adults know that roughly half of global food production relies on mineral fertilizers, according to a new poll released for Global Fertilizer Day.
The YouGov survey of 1,271 US adults, commissioned by the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), finds that while most people understand what fertilizers do, far fewer recognize the role mineral fertilizers play in global food security.
Basic understanding of fertilizers is fairly high. When presented with a list of options, 66% of respondents correctly identified that their main purpose is to provide crops with the nutrients they need to grow. 60% selected nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as the nutrients plants require in the largest amounts. However, the survey also found that roughly one in every twelve people (8%) believed the main purpose of fertilizers was to kill insects and other crop pests.
When asked what proportion of global food production they thought depended on mineral fertilizers, 20% correctly selected “around half.” More than a third (36%) said they did not know, while the remaining estimates were distributed both above (24%) and below (20%) the correct figure.
The poll also finds considerable uncertainty about the wider contribution of mineral fertilizers:

• 44% thought mineral fertilizers were essential to feeding the existing human population, while 43% did not know and 13% thought the statement was false.
• 31% thought mineral fertilizers could reduce the need to use additional land to grow food, while 53% did not know and 16% thought they could not.

IFA CEO/Director General Alzbeta Klein said:

These findings show that much more needs to be done to explain the essential role mineral fertilizers play in feeding today’s population and enabling farmers to produce more food from limited agricultural land.
By working with our members across the global fertilizer supply chain, we want to encourage a much broader and better-informed conversation about what it takes to feed the world.

The research was undertaken 28-30 September 2026 to support the launch of IFA’s #FoodStartsHere campaign. This nine-month campaign will include a series of short films, visual content and evidence-led explainers highlighting the essential contribution of mineral fertilizers to feeding the world.

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All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 1,271 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28 and 30 September 2026. The survey was conducted online, and the figures were weighted to be representative of all US adults aged 18 and over.
Respondents were given the following definition: “By mineral fertilizers, we mean fertilizers that are manufactured from mined minerals or captured natural elements, rather than organic fertilizers such as manure or compost.”
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Full question wording and data tables are available on request.

The International Fertilizer Association (IFA) was founded in 1927 and is the only global fertilizer association. It has approximately 500 members in more than 80 countries and promotes the efficient and responsible production, distribution and use of plant nutrients.
Its members include fertilizer producers, traders and distributors, industry associations, service providers, research organizations, start-ups and non-governmental organizations.

IFA Head of Communications
Rob Mills
rmills@fertilizer.org
(UK) +44 7825 719 692